Exploring the Association between Socioeconomic and Psychological Factors and Breastfeeding in the First Year of Life during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Thailand
Issued Date
2023-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
16617827
eISSN
16604601
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85145975547
Pubmed ID
36612453
Journal Title
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Volume
20
Issue
1
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol.20 No.1 (2023)
Suggested Citation
Nuampa S., Patil C.L., Prasong S., Kuesakul K., Sudphet M. Exploring the Association between Socioeconomic and Psychological Factors and Breastfeeding in the First Year of Life during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Thailand. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol.20 No.1 (2023). doi:10.3390/ijerph20010130 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/82609
Title
Exploring the Association between Socioeconomic and Psychological Factors and Breastfeeding in the First Year of Life during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Thailand
Author(s)
Author's Affiliation
Other Contributor(s)
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, R2 = 0.278, R2 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.