Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Tuesday, October 19Community and Population HealthAssessment of Prenatal Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy and Feelings of Concern and Confusion among Pregnant Persons during COVID-19 in the United States
Section snippets
Learning Outcome
Discuss the association between prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy and perceived level of confusion with recommendations and concern with giving birth during COVID-19 among a sample of women in the United States.
Background
To assess the relationship between perceived level of confusion with recommendations and concern with giving birth during COVID-19 and prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy among a sample of pregnant persons in the United States.
Methods
A sample of 849 pregnant persons, representing all 50 states and 5 US territories, took a 78-item web-based survey between May and December of 2020. The survey items assessed prenatal breastfeeding self-efficacy using the valid PREP to BF scale, breastfeeding intention, concern for the baby being exposed to COVID-19, and confusion with safe pregnancy recommendations.
Results
The sample, mean age 28.9 years, had a reasonably high mean PREP to BF score (308.52 ± 62.74; range 39-390). Over 95% had intention to breastfeed either exclusively (68.96%) or in combination (26.5%) with formula. Almost 29% were confused by safe pregnancy recommendations and 50.7% were concerned their baby would be exposed to COVID-19 at the time of birth. One-way ANOVAs revealed persons with more concern for their baby’s exposure (p=.002) and more confusion over recommendations (p<.001) had
Conclusion
Confusion over safe pregnancy recommendations and concern for their baby’s safety had significant negative effects on pregnant persons’ prenatal self-efficacy for successful breastfeeding after birth during COVID-19 in 2020. Prenatal healthcare teams should aim to engage in conversation about recommendations and reassure of proven COVID-19 safety protocols used during delivery to increase trust and decrease confusion and fear while helping pregnant persons to sustain or increase self-efficacy
Funding source
This material is based upon work supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, US Department of Agriculture, Hatch project LAB94426.