Student Research Committee, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

Objective: Breastfeeding self-efficacy (BSE) refers to a mother's confidence in her ability to breastfeed her baby and it is a key factor during breastfeeding. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between BSE and its related factors with the history of covid-19 infection during childbirth in breastfeeding mothers.

Patients and Methods: This ambidirectional cohort study was conducted on 60 breastfeeding mothers referred to Shahid Sadoughi Hospital, Yazd, Iran in two case and control groups. Participants were selected randomly. BSE questionnaire and a checklist consisted of midwifery-demographic and baseline characteristics were completed through interview. Data were analyzed using descriptive and Chi-square tests. In this study, the significance level was p = 0.05.

Results: Both case and control groups were homogeneous in terms of midwifery-demographic and baseline characteristics (p>0.05). Breastfeeding self-efficacy score (BSES) was significantly lower in positive COVID-19 than negative (p< 0.001). According to univariate logistic regression analysis, type of delivery, neonate hospitalization, and COVID -19 infection was significantly related to poor BSE (p< 0.05). However, based on multiple regression analysis, a positive test result for Covid-19 during childbirth was the only statistically significant predictor of BSES (p: 0.02).

Conclusions: In the present study, positive test result for COVID-19 was the only significant predictor of BSE during childbirth.