Exploring the Association between Socioeconomic and Psychological Factors and Breastfeeding in the First Year of Life during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Thailand

Sasitara Nuampa (), Crystal L. Patil, Sudhathai Prasong, Kornkanok Kuesakul and Metpapha Sudphet
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Sasitara Nuampa: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecological Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
Crystal L. Patil: Department of Human Development Nursing Science, College of Nursing, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
Sudhathai Prasong: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecological Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
Kornkanok Kuesakul: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecological Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
Metpapha Sudphet: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 20, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Breastfeeding is essential for the survival, nutrition, and development of infants and young children. As a result of COVID-19’s effects of economic crises and psychological difficulties, breastfeeding outcomes have declined. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between socioeconomic and psychological factors with breastfeeding duration in the first year of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cross-sectional online surveys ( n = 390) were conducted between August and November 2021. The participants were women aged 15 years and above who had given birth within 6–12 months before data collection and delivered in public hospitals in the top three provinces with the worst COVID-19 outbreaks during the second wave in Thailand. The average breastfeeding duration in this study was 6.20 months (±2.5) with a range of 1–12 months. Of mothers, 44.9% continued to breastfeed until between 6 and 12 months of age. In a multiple regression analysis, family income (Beta = 0.112, t = 1.988, p < 0.05), breastfeeding intention (beta = 0.097, t = 2.142, p < 0.05), intended breastfeeding duration (beta = 0.391, t = 8.355, p < 0.05), intention to receive vaccination (beta =0.129, t = 2.720, p < 0.05), and anxiety (beta = 0.118, t = 2.237, p < 0.05) were associated with breastfeeding duration in the first year of life (F (7, 382) = 20.977, p < 0.05, R 2 = 0.278, R 2 Adjusted = 0.264). During COVID-19, psychological factors were more strongly associated with breastfeeding duration in the first year of life than socioeconomic factors. Healthcare providers should promote breastfeeding intention, motivate COVID-19 vaccination intention, and support mental health among lactating mothers, particularly in the event of a pandemic.

Keywords: breastfeeding duration; COVID-19; factor; psychology; socioeconomic; Thailand (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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