PREVALENCE OF BREASTFEEDING AND ITS SUPPORTING FACTORS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN INDONESIA

Although the benefits of breastfeeding have been strongly established by previous literature, there are a variety of factors that can affect a mother’s choice in whether to provide exclusive breastfeeding, especially in such a special circumstance as the COVID-19 pandemic. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an increasing apprehension that exclusive breastfeeding rates would significantly decrease. Up to the point when this study is conducted, no significant scientific evidence confirmed a vertical transmission of COVID-19 infection from the mother to the baby during pregnancy and labor, but it seems the fear does linger. Aims: This study identifies the prevalence of breastfeeding during COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia and explore supporting factors related to breastfeeding practices among Indonesian women of reproductive age/mothers. Method: This study was a non-experimental, cross-sectional design using an online survey distributed among mothers who have breastfed during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Result: The rate of exclusive breastfeeding among recruited mothers reaches 89.4%. As for their responsibility to return to work, 30.6% of mothers disagree that it negatively affects breastfeeding decisions, while 21.6% strongly disagree. Conclusion: There is an increasing prevalence of breastfeeding among mothers during pandemic, with working from home as the major determinant of successful breastfeeding practices among mothers in Indonesia.