Breastfeeding experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain:a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: The pandemic caused by COVID-19 has affected reproductive and perinatal health both through the infection itself and, indirectly, as a consequence of changes in medical care, social policy or social and economic circumstances. The objective of this study is to explore the impact of the pandemic and of the measures adopted on breastfeeding initiation and maintenance. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted by means in-depth semi-structured interviews, until reaching data saturation. The study was conducted between the months of January to May 2021. Participants were recruited by midwives from the Primary Care Centres of the Andalusian provinces provinces of Seville, Cádiz, Huelva, Granada, and Jaén. The interviews were conducted via phone call and were subsequently transcribed and analysed by means of reflexive inductive thematic analysis, using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis. RESULTS: A total of 30 interviews were conducted. Five main themes and ten subthemes were developed, namely: Information received (access to the information, figure who provided the information), unequal support from the professionals during the pandemic (support to postpartum hospitalization, support received from Primary Health Care during the postpartum period), social and family support about breastfeeding (support groups, family support), impact of confinement and of social restriction measures (positive influence on breastfeeding, influence on bonding with the newborn), emotional effect of the pandemic (insecurity and fear related to contagion by coronavirus, feelings of loneliness). CONCLUSION: The use of online breastfeeding support groups through applications such as WhatsApp®, Facebook® or Instagram® has provided important breastfeeding information and support sources. The main figure identified that has provided formal breastfeeding support during this period was that of the midwife. In addition, the social restrictions inherent to the pandemic have exerted a positive effect for women in bonding and breastfeeding, as a consequence of the increase in the time spent at their homes and in the family nucleus co-living.

Prevalencia de la Lactancia Materna en Huelva, duración y factores relacionados / Prevalence of Breastfeeding in Huelva, duration and related factors

Objetivos: Conocer la prevalencia y duración de la Lactancia Materna (LM), así como la relación con las variables sociodemográficas, obstétricas y de educación materno infantil. Diseño: Estudio observacional descriptivo. Emplazamiento: siete centros de salud de Huelva capital. Participantes: 268 mujeres con niños de 1 a 2 años. La selección se hizo consecutiva, por orden de llegada. Mediciones principales: prevalencia y duración de LM, características sociodemográficas, características perinatales y alimentación complementaria. Resultados: Iniciaron la LM exclusiva un 52,9 % (IC:46,99-58,91). A los seis meses permanecen un 19,7% (IC:15,33-24,87). Un 63,4% (IC:57,54-69,04) comienzan lactancia materna total (exclusiva o mixta), un 47,7% (IC:41,82-53,75) continúa con ella a los 3 meses y un 26,1% (IC:21,12-31,63) a los 6 meses. La LM está relacionada con: la formación académica de la madre, el número de hijos, asistir a los talleres de preparación al parto, número de sesiones, nivel de satisfacción con respecto a la educación materno infantil, haber solicitado ayuda sobre LM, conocer el grupo de apoyo a la lactancia y haber asistido al mismo. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de LM es baja con respecto a lo esperado por los datos nacionales, la duración de la misma se aparta de las recomendaciones de la OMS y el nivel educativo de la madre favorece la prevalencia y duración de la LM. Los profesionales de la salud debemos continuar con su promoción y apoyo (AU)

Objective: To know the prevalence and duration of the breastfeeding, as well as the relation with the sociodemographic, obstetric and child and maternal education factors. Design: descriptive observational study. Site: seven health centers of Huelva city. Participants: 268 mothers of 1-2 y.o. children. The selection was made straight, in order of arrival. Main measurements: prevalence and duration of the breastfeeding, sociodemographic characteristics, perinatal characteristics and complementary feeding. Results: The 52,9 % (CI:46,99-58,91) of the sample initiated the exclusive breastfeeding. Six months later remained the 19,7 % (CI:15,33-24,87). The 63,4% (CI:57,54-69,04) initiated the total breastfeeding, 47,7% (CI:41,82-53,75) continue with it 3 months later and the 26,1% (CI:21,12-31,63) 6 months later. The breastfeeding is related with: the academic education of the mother, the number of children, to attend the workshops childbirth preparation, number of sessions, level of satisfaction with maternal and child education, to have requested assistance on reastfeeding, to know the breastfeeding support group and to have atended to it. Conclusions: The prevalence of the breastfeeding is less concerning than expected by the national data, the length of it is far from the recommendations of the WHO and the educational level of the mother, favors the prevalence and duration of breastfeeding. Health professionals must continue with their promotion and support (AU)

Satisfacción de las madres sobre la información recibida acerca de las vacunas infantiles / Satisfaction of mothers regarding the information received about infant vaccines

OBJETIVO: conocer la satisfacción de las madres de aquellos niños vacunados en Huelva acerca de la información recibida sobre las vacunas infantiles y la cobertura de vacunación. MÉTODO: estudio descriptivo transversal en los centros de salud de Huelva sobre madres de niños de edades comprendidas entre los 9 y los 28 meses de edad. Se empleó un cuestionario ad hoc que recogía información de variables sociodemográficas y del grado de vacunación de las vacunas sistemáticas y de la vacuna antineumocócica, contra el rotavirus y contra la varicela y los motivos para aceptarlas o no. Tratamiento de los datos: análisis bivariante a través de t de Student para muestras independientes. RESULTADOS: el total de madres estudiadas fue de 268. La media de la satisfacción de las madres fue de 6,6 (desviación estándar: 1,9) sobre 10. El porcentaje de vacunación para la vacuna conjugada antineumocócica fue de 64,4%, para la vacuna contra el rotavirus de 22,9% y para la vacuna contra el virus antivaricela del 21,4%, poniéndose de manifiesto una alta variabilidad entre las distintas zonas de salud. Los niños que participaron eneste estudio cumplieron con las vacunas sistemáticas del Programa de Vacunación Andaluz (PVA). CONCLUSIONES: el 100% de las madres vacuna a sus hijos de las vacunas gratuitas e incluidas en el PVA, sin embargo, no se le administraron las vacunas recomendadas como la antineumocócica, contra el rotavirus y contra la varicela, con coberturas aceptables

OBJECTIVE: children vaccinated in Huelva regarding the information received about infant vaccines and vaccination coverage. METHOD: transversal descriptive study conducted in health centres in Huelva with the mothers of 9-to-28-month-old children. An ad hoc questionnaire was used, which collected information on socio-demographic variables, and the level of vaccination for systematic vaccines and anti-pneumococcal vaccine, vaccines against rotavirus and chickenpox, and the reasons for accepting them or not. Data treatment: bivariate analysis through Student's t-test for independent samples. RESULTS: the total number of mothers included in the study was 268. The mean satisfaction of mothers was 6.6 (standard deviation: 1.9) out of 10. The percentage of vaccination for the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine was 64.4%; 22.9% for the rotavirus vaccine, and 21.4% for the chickenpox vaccine. High variability was evident between the different health areas. The children involved in this study received all systematic vaccines within the Andalusian Vaccination Program (PVA). CONCLUSIONS: 100% of mothers took their children to receive free vaccines which are included in the PVA. However, those recommended vaccines, such as anti-pneumococcal, against rotavirus, and against chickenpox, were not administered with an acceptable coverage