2021-08-04-世界卫生组织-Update_65_–_Breastfeeding_and_newborn_care_in_the_context_of_COVID-19_16页_1mb

Global COVID-19 Update and Breastfeeding Guidance (based on WHO document dated 5 August 2021)

• Overall Context: This update provides insights into the global COVID-19 situation and key recommendations on breastfeeding during the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted global health, with over 200 million cases and more than 4.2 million deaths worldwide as of 5 August 2021. Children under five account for over 1.2 million cases.

• Importance of Breastfeeding:

  • Breastfeeding offers substantial health benefits, including protection for infants against infectious diseases and potential lifelong health advantages. Children not breastfed face higher risks of illness and long-term health issues.
  • For mothers, breastfeeding reduces risks of breast cancer and improves birth spacing, and may protect against ovarian cancer and type 2 diabetes.
  • COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for lactating women, as the virus is unlikely to pose a risk to breastfed infants. WHO advises continuing breastfeeding post-vaccination.

• Infant and Newborn Risks:

  • Newborns and infants have a low risk of severe COVID-19 illness; most reported cases are mild or asymptomatic. There is no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 transmission through breastmilk, so breastfeeding should continue if possible.
  • Mothers and infants should maintain close contact, including skin-to-skin contact and kangaroo mother care, while adhering to infection prevention measures.

• Guidance for Interrupted Breastfeeding:

  • If a mother is too ill to breastfeed, she should express milk and take precautions to maintain safety. Support for relactation (re-establishing milk supply) is encouraged.
  • Alternatives include donor human milk, wet nursing where appropriate, and infant formula as a last resort, prioritized based on availability and safety.

• Infection Control Practices:

  • Best practices for infant care involve hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, and surface disinfection by mothers with COVID-19.
  • Breastfeeding mothers should clean their chests if coughing, but breastwashing before each feed is not necessary. The benefits of breastfeeding are emphasized over potential risks.

• WHO Resources and Recommendations:

  • WHO supports mothers and infants remaining together, breastfeeding, and practicing skin-to-skin contact with infection control.
  • From available evidence, breastfeeding benefits substantially outweigh transmission risks. WHO provides scientific briefs, FAQs for healthcare workers, and guidelines on kangaroo mother care.
  • General COVID-19 protective measures include mask-wearing, hand hygiene, physical distancing, ventilation, and coughing into the elbow.

• General Protective Measures Against COVID-19:

  • Key steps to protect individuals and communities include cleaning hands regularly, wearing masks, maintaining distance, coughing into elbows, and ensuring proper ventilation.