The role of nurses, midwives, and doulas on breastfeeding: changes during the COVID-19 pandemic
IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered maternal healthcare delivery, including breastfeeding practices. Our study investigated the influence of nurses, midwives, and doulas on breastfeeding education and rates, with a specific focus on changes that transpired during the COVID-19...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Global Women's Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2025.1469428/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850201671109443584 |
|---|---|
| author | Shubhecchha Dhaurali Shubhecchha Dhaurali Shubhecchha Dhaurali Shikhar Shrestha Shikhar Shrestha |
| author_facet | Shubhecchha Dhaurali Shubhecchha Dhaurali Shubhecchha Dhaurali Shikhar Shrestha Shikhar Shrestha |
| author_sort | Shubhecchha Dhaurali |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered maternal healthcare delivery, including breastfeeding practices. Our study investigated the influence of nurses, midwives, and doulas on breastfeeding education and rates, with a specific focus on changes that transpired during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsUsing a cross-sectional design, we performed a secondary data analysis on a stratified systematic sample of forty-six U.S. states and New York City respondents who completed the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) Phase 7 (2012–2015) and Phase 8 (2016–2020) surveys (n = 193,068). Descriptive analyses and adjusted multivariable logistic regression models reporting adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were used to assess associations between the provision of breastfeeding guidance to mothers from nurses, doulas, or midwife healthcare professionals; breastfeeding/pumping rates; and the COVID-19 pandemic. Cox-proportional hazard models were used to examine the association between breastfeeding guidance and breastfeeding duration.ResultsOur findings revealed that participants who received breastfeeding guidance from nurses, midwives, or doulas were twice as likely to have engaged in breastfeeding or milk pumping for their infants than participants who did not receive breastfeeding education (aOR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.89–2.11, p < 0.0001). Additionally, participants who gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic were notably less likely to receive breastfeeding education from a nurse, midwife, or doula than were those who gave birth before the pandemic (aOR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.88–0.96, p < 0.0001). We also find that the hazard of stopping breastfeeding was lower among participants who received breastfeeding guidance (HR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.91–0.97, p < 0.0001). Additionally, the hazard of stopping breastfeeding was lower during COVID-19 (HR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.91–0.97, p = 0.001)DiscussionOur study underscores the vital role that healthcare professionals play in educating, advocating for, and promoting breastfeeding behaviors. This further highlights the pressing need for sustained efforts to support breastfeeding initiatives and address disparities in maternal and child health, particularly in the context of the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c31efbe802f74adaaf827055e7155a3f |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2673-5059 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Global Women's Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-c31efbe802f74adaaf827055e7155a3f2025-08-20T02:11:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Global Women's Health2673-50592025-04-01610.3389/fgwh.2025.14694281469428The role of nurses, midwives, and doulas on breastfeeding: changes during the COVID-19 pandemicShubhecchha Dhaurali0Shubhecchha Dhaurali1Shubhecchha Dhaurali2Shikhar Shrestha3Shikhar Shrestha4Department of Community Health, School of Arts and Sciences, Tufts University, Medford, MA, United StatesEpidemiology and Data Synthesis Unit, Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United StatesDepartment of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United StatesEpidemiology and Data Synthesis Unit, Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United StatesDepartment of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United StatesIntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered maternal healthcare delivery, including breastfeeding practices. Our study investigated the influence of nurses, midwives, and doulas on breastfeeding education and rates, with a specific focus on changes that transpired during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsUsing a cross-sectional design, we performed a secondary data analysis on a stratified systematic sample of forty-six U.S. states and New York City respondents who completed the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) Phase 7 (2012–2015) and Phase 8 (2016–2020) surveys (n = 193,068). Descriptive analyses and adjusted multivariable logistic regression models reporting adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were used to assess associations between the provision of breastfeeding guidance to mothers from nurses, doulas, or midwife healthcare professionals; breastfeeding/pumping rates; and the COVID-19 pandemic. Cox-proportional hazard models were used to examine the association between breastfeeding guidance and breastfeeding duration.ResultsOur findings revealed that participants who received breastfeeding guidance from nurses, midwives, or doulas were twice as likely to have engaged in breastfeeding or milk pumping for their infants than participants who did not receive breastfeeding education (aOR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.89–2.11, p < 0.0001). Additionally, participants who gave birth during the COVID-19 pandemic were notably less likely to receive breastfeeding education from a nurse, midwife, or doula than were those who gave birth before the pandemic (aOR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.88–0.96, p < 0.0001). We also find that the hazard of stopping breastfeeding was lower among participants who received breastfeeding guidance (HR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.91–0.97, p < 0.0001). Additionally, the hazard of stopping breastfeeding was lower during COVID-19 (HR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.91–0.97, p = 0.001)DiscussionOur study underscores the vital role that healthcare professionals play in educating, advocating for, and promoting breastfeeding behaviors. This further highlights the pressing need for sustained efforts to support breastfeeding initiatives and address disparities in maternal and child health, particularly in the context of the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2025.1469428/fullbreastfeeding educationbreastfeeding durationCOVID-19 pandemicnursemidwifedoula |
| spellingShingle | Shubhecchha Dhaurali Shubhecchha Dhaurali Shubhecchha Dhaurali Shikhar Shrestha Shikhar Shrestha The role of nurses, midwives, and doulas on breastfeeding: changes during the COVID-19 pandemic Frontiers in Global Women's Health breastfeeding education breastfeeding duration COVID-19 pandemic nurse midwife doula |
| title | The role of nurses, midwives, and doulas on breastfeeding: changes during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full | The role of nurses, midwives, and doulas on breastfeeding: changes during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | The role of nurses, midwives, and doulas on breastfeeding: changes during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of nurses, midwives, and doulas on breastfeeding: changes during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_short | The role of nurses, midwives, and doulas on breastfeeding: changes during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | role of nurses midwives and doulas on breastfeeding changes during the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | breastfeeding education breastfeeding duration COVID-19 pandemic nurse midwife doula |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2025.1469428/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shubhecchhadhaurali theroleofnursesmidwivesanddoulasonbreastfeedingchangesduringthecovid19pandemic AT shubhecchhadhaurali theroleofnursesmidwivesanddoulasonbreastfeedingchangesduringthecovid19pandemic AT shubhecchhadhaurali theroleofnursesmidwivesanddoulasonbreastfeedingchangesduringthecovid19pandemic AT shikharshrestha theroleofnursesmidwivesanddoulasonbreastfeedingchangesduringthecovid19pandemic AT shikharshrestha theroleofnursesmidwivesanddoulasonbreastfeedingchangesduringthecovid19pandemic AT shubhecchhadhaurali roleofnursesmidwivesanddoulasonbreastfeedingchangesduringthecovid19pandemic AT shubhecchhadhaurali roleofnursesmidwivesanddoulasonbreastfeedingchangesduringthecovid19pandemic AT shubhecchhadhaurali roleofnursesmidwivesanddoulasonbreastfeedingchangesduringthecovid19pandemic AT shikharshrestha roleofnursesmidwivesanddoulasonbreastfeedingchangesduringthecovid19pandemic AT shikharshrestha roleofnursesmidwivesanddoulasonbreastfeedingchangesduringthecovid19pandemic |