Archive | 2021
Breastfeeding During COVID-19 Pandemic in India: Challenges and Prospects
Abstract
Breastfeeding during infancy is important for good health and wellbeing. In India, rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in lockdowns and limited or no mobility. As a result, Anganwadies (institutions supporting infant and young child feeding practices and supplementary nutrition) were closed for long durations. Frontline grassroots health workers such as ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists), who also is responsible for promoting breastfeeding, were stretched with additional allocated work on COVID-19 rapid response. In India, myths around the transfer of COVID-19 from mothers to infants during breastfeeding did round. It is expected that the nutrition status of newborns and infants may have further worsened during COVID-19. Researchers have established that limited or no breastfeeding impacts the growth and development of infants during the critical first 1000 days also resulting in stunting. In this review we aimed to ascertain the status of breastfeeding practices during COVID-19 pandemic times and the impact it may have on infants. The objective of this article is to review the challenges and prospects of breastfeeding in India during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Through a review of literature, case studies, experience from onground rapid response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the current status of breastfeeding practices in India was reviewed. It may be concluded that there are many challenges as well as prospects for future pandemic preparedness and planning and to reduce risks addressing under-nutrition conditions of children such as stunting. A practical way forward maybe by using the suggested prioritization of States and interventions thereof based on stunting and breastfeeding status and efforts towards doing away with myths around breastfeeding.