Breastfeeding and COVID-19 in Malaysia: Weighing the Risks and Benefits

Zurraini, Arabi and Nurjasmine Aida, Jamani (2020) Breastfeeding and COVID-19 in Malaysia: Weighing the Risks and Benefits. IIUM Medical Journal Malaysia, 19 (3). pp. 125-129. ISSN 1823-4631

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Abstract

Breastmilk is known to be the best source of nutrition for infants. Malaysia adopts the policy by the World Health Organization (WHO) which recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months followed by a combination of nutritious complementary foods and to continue breastfeeding for two years or beyond.1 Numerous effort has been done to support, promote, and protect breastfeeding at all levels of implementation to increase the rate of breastfeeding. The novel coronavirus disease, also known as COVID-19 that emerged at the end of 2019 was declared a global pandemic by the WHO on March 11, 2020.2 This pandemic has imposed a significant effect on the world’s population. Person to person transfer via close contact with an infected person and exposed to coughing, sneezing and respiratory droplets has been confirmed by cases worldwide.3 Globally, many countries have imposed lockdown measures in an effort of reducing the transmission of this new disease. Similarly, Malaysia has entered the fourth phase of the Movement Control Order (MCO) which started on 18th March 2020. Fear of transmission of COVID-19 from mother to infant while breastfeeding may lead to a reduction in this practice despite its known benefits. In this pandemic, the main priority is public health interventions in controlling the outbreak. New guidelines are needed in this specific group of population in minimising the spread of this disease. Thus, this article aims to weigh the risk and benefit of breastfeeding practice during the COVID-19 pandemic by comparing relevant pieces of evidence.

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