Breastfeeding and Contraceptive Methods in Women With Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus- 2 (SARS-COV-2) Infection in Peripartum Period
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to assess the exclusive breastfeeding and contraceptive methods among women delivering within 1-week of a positive test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus- 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.
Materials and methods: In this study, 106 women with SARS-CoV-2 infection who were either asymptomatic or had mild disease were included. They were admitted for maternity care at a tertiary center between May to September 2020. The data was collected during their hospital stay and subsequently by telephonic or in-person interviews at 4-6 weeks and 8-10 weeks postpartum for contraceptive use, breastfeeding and use of facemask and hand-hygiene.
Results: Sixty-three (59.4%) women had vaginal delivery and 43 (40.6%) required cesarean-section. Only one of the 98 newborns who were tested for SARS-CoV-2 turned out positive. Initiation of breastfeeding was delayed by an average of three days due to preparing the Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) report. Exclusive breastfeeding was practiced by 69% and mixed feeding by 26%.
Pre breastfeeding hand hygiene and facemask use declined after discharge (100% to 53.75% at
8-10 weeks postpartum). Out of 106, 86 (81%) women used no contraception at 8-10 weeks postpartum, continued with post-placental-IUD in 8/106 (7.5%) and tubal-sterilization during cesarean in 8/106 (7.5%) cases. Only 4/106 (4%) adopted alternative methods like barrier contraception.
Conclusion: The practice of exclusive breastfeeding remains unchanged among women who suffered from SARS-CoV-2 infection in the peripartum period while uptake of postpartum contraception was minimal except for the women who opted for long term contraceptive methods in the immediate postpartum period.
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Issue | Vol 16, No 1 (March 2022) | |
Section | Original Articles | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.18502/jfrh.v16i1.8595 | |
Keywords | ||
Breastfeeding SARS-CoV-2 Contraception |
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