Protections and Social Support of Exclusive Breastfeeding for Mothers with COVID-19: Message for Health Promotion during The Pandemic

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic is a concern regarding the potential failure of exclusive breastfeeding in mothers with COVID-19. This study reviews previous research describing the protective and social support practices of exclusive breastfeeding in mothers with COVID-19. Methods: A systematic search was undertaken in March-June 2021 utilizing databases such as Scopus and PubMed for articles that fit the inclusion criteria and had a deadline of 2020-2021. The final 16 papers were eligible for a full text evaluation after being eliminated from the pool of 462 articles. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to evaluate the study's quality (NOS). Results: We identified 16 studies reporting 1,865 cases of maternal infection with COVID-19. An overview of breastfeeding protection practices is carried out through rooming-in and post-delivery skin contact. Using tight precautions like as wearing a mask, social isolation, and keeping hand and breast hygiene are all part of this technique. COVID-19 is not transmitted to all kids born to women who use breastfeeding protection. In order to ensure that breastfeeding continues and precautions are followed, social support from health workers, families, and health care management must be considered. Conculusion: In mothers with COVID-19 breastfeeding is still recommended but must be supported by strict health protocols. To protect exclusive breastfeeding practices and ensure that COVID-19 precautions are followed, social assistance cannot be overlooked.