Infant feeding practices and associated factors during the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from an online crosssectional study in Indonesia

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19 pandemic presents a challenge to ensuring optimal infant feeding practices. This study aimed to assess infant feeding practices and investigate potential factors associated with exclusive and continued breastfeeding practices during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. Methods: An online survey was conducted during December 2020 – August 2021. A total of 817 Indonesian mothers aged ≥18 years old with infants aged <18 months were obtained through convenience sampling. Exclusive breastfeeding was the practice at the time of the survey among infants <6 months old; continued breastfeeding was considered when infants aged >6 months received any type of breastfeeding in the previous day. Results: Most subjects were aged 25-34 years old (81.3%), had a high education level (85.7%), with middle household income level (40.5%), and lived in Java Island (81.6%). Infants’ age and sex were comparable between younger vs. older infants and boys vs. girls, respectively. Exclusive breastfeeding was 81.3%. Continued breastfeeding was 93.4%, with 74.3% meeting the minimum acceptable diet. Breastfeeding intention (92.9%) and husband’s support for infant feeding (67.2%) were reported during the COVID-19 pandemic. Multivariate analyses showed that breastfeeding intention was one of the factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding [aOR=12.6; 95%CI (4.1-39.1)] and continued breastfeeding [10.9 (4.4-27.0)]. Conclusion: The study suggested that mothers’ intention to breastfeed during the COVID-19 pandemic provided affirmation of good breastfeeding experiences by allowing mothers to have more time for childcare activities and more opportunities to develop meaningful coparenting practices while staying at home.