The effect of telephone supported breastfeeding follow-up on physiological jaundice, exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months, infantil colic, and breastfeeding self-efficacy of their mothers in the Coronovirus pandemic

In this study, the effects of telephone-supported breastfeeding follow-up on prevention of physiological jaundice and colic development in infants, exclusive breastfeeding and continued breastfeeding for the first six months, and breastfeeding self-efficacy of mothers during the coronavirus pandemic were investigated. Fifty-four pregnant women were included in the study between the ages of 18- 45, reached through social media, 36 weeks of gestation and above, planning to breastfeed, and will give birth for the first or second time. Breastfeeding and baby care training was given to pregnant women by video call by the researcher, and their sociodemographic characteristics were recorded. While video talk support was provided to the mothers in the study group every day for the first week after discharge and weekly until the 24th week, the control group was followed up with the baby follow-up form by making a call only for the application of the scales. Postpartum first day and second week LATCH Breastfeeding Assessment Tool, second and 24th weeks breastfeeding self-efficacy scale, and infantile colic scale at 4th, 8th, 12th, 16th, 20th, 24th weeks were applied to the study and control groups. Chi-square and t-test in demographic data, Mann Whitney U test used in LATCH scale, Postpartum breastfeeding self-efficacy scale, and infantile colic scale mean scores, multiple analysis of variance in repeated measurements for the change in mean scores according to follow-up weeks were used. Telephone-supported breastfeeding follow-up affected the exclusive breastfeeding of 96.3% of the infants in the study group in the first six months. Since the development of jaundice showed a controlled decrease in both groups depending on breast milk intake, there was no statistical difference between the groups. Telephone counseling did not affect breastfeeding success, as the total scores from the LATCH scale were similar between the groups. Breastfeeding self-efficacy mean scores were similar between the groups at 24 weeks and beyond. No statistical difference was detected. The mean infantile colic scale score was lower in the study group at the 24th-week follow-up created a statistical difference between the groups. While the mean infantile colic scale score, breastfeeding success, and breastfeeding vii self-efficacy varied between groups over time, similar scores did not create a statistical difference between the groups and in terms of group*time interaction. Keywords: breastfeeding, covid-19, infantile colic, jaundice, self efficacy