TY - JOUR
T1 - A public health approach for deciding policy on infant feeding and mother–infant contact in the context of COVID-19
AU - WHO COVID-19 Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health Research Network, Newborn and Infant Feeding Working Groups
AU - Rollins, Nigel
AU - Minckas, Nicole
AU - Jehan, Fyezah
AU - Lodha, Rakesh
AU - Raiten, Daniel
AU - Thorne, Claire
AU - Van de Perre, Philippe
AU - Ververs, Mija
AU - Walker, Neff
AU - Bahl, Rajiv
AU - Victora, Cesar G.
N1 - Funding Information:
CT reports grants from the European Commission, Public Health England, Penta Foundation, the UK Medical Research Council, Child Health Research Charitable Incorporated Organisation; and grants and personal fees from ViiV Healthcare, outside the submitted work. All other authors declare no competing interests.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 World Health Organization
PY - 2021/4
Y1 - 2021/4
N2 - The COVID-19 pandemic has raised concern about the possibility and effects of mother–infant transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through breastfeeding and close contact. The insufficient available evidence has resulted in differing recommendations by health professional associations and national health authorities. We present an approach for deciding public health policy on infant feeding and mother–infant contact in the context of COVID-19, or for future emerging viruses, that balances the risks that are associated with viral infection against child survival, lifelong health, and development, and also maternal health. Using the Lives Saved Tool, we used available data to show how different public health approaches might affect infant mortality. Based on existing evidence, including population and survival estimates, the number of infant deaths in low-income and middle-income countries due to COVID-19 (2020–21) might range between 1800 and 2800. By contrast, if mothers with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection are recommended to separate from their newborn babies and avoid or stop breastfeeding, additional deaths among infants would range between 188 000 and 273 000.
AB - The COVID-19 pandemic has raised concern about the possibility and effects of mother–infant transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through breastfeeding and close contact. The insufficient available evidence has resulted in differing recommendations by health professional associations and national health authorities. We present an approach for deciding public health policy on infant feeding and mother–infant contact in the context of COVID-19, or for future emerging viruses, that balances the risks that are associated with viral infection against child survival, lifelong health, and development, and also maternal health. Using the Lives Saved Tool, we used available data to show how different public health approaches might affect infant mortality. Based on existing evidence, including population and survival estimates, the number of infant deaths in low-income and middle-income countries due to COVID-19 (2020–21) might range between 1800 and 2800. By contrast, if mothers with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection are recommended to separate from their newborn babies and avoid or stop breastfeeding, additional deaths among infants would range between 188 000 and 273 000.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85102561791&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S2214-109X(20)30538-6
DO - 10.1016/S2214-109X(20)30538-6
M3 - Review article
C2 - 33631131
AN - SCOPUS:85102561791
SN - 2214-109X
VL - 9
SP - e552-e557
JO - The Lancet Global Health
JF - The Lancet Global Health
IS - 4
ER -
