The relationships between the COVID-19 fears of mothers and their mother-infant bonding and breastfeeding self-efficacy in the postpartum period

Abstract

ABSTRACT Mothers who are in more sensitive and in a different state in the postpartum period may think that the COVID-19 pandemic will affect the health of their babies. This study was carried out to investigate the relationship between the COVID-19 fears of mothers in the postpartum period and their mother-infant bonding and breastfeeding self-efficacy levels. This descriptive study included 258 mothers who had given birth at a state hospital in Turkey. The data were collected an information form, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, the Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale, the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale and analyzed. It was found that the mothers had moderate COVID-19 fear levels, they did not experience mother-infant bonding problems, and their breastfeeding self-efficacy levels were high. There was a negative relationship between the COVID-19 fear scores and breastfeeding self-efficacy scores. It may be recommended to provide education programs the relationships between breastfeeding, mother-infant bonding, and COVID-19 on mothers.