Learning Outcome
Describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the implementation of Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies (IYCF-E) recommendations by healthcare workers in primary healthcare facilities in Syria.
As part of improving the programming for Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies (IYCF-E) in Syria, the aim of this project was to assess the degree to which IYCF-E practices were implemented in the context of COVID-19 within Syria. We conducted remote semi-structured interviews via mobile technology targeting five health care facilities in Aleppo and Rural Damascus during September 2020. A total of twenty-eight healthcare workers participated in the project. Participants were also asked to identify facilitating factors and barriers to the implementation of IYCF-E practices within primary healthcare. Data were analyzed via manual thematic groups and Microsoft Excel. Most healthcare workers are implementing IYCF practices in the targeted healthcare facilities during COVID-19, but are not recommending either donor human milk, or wet nursing. They do not think COVID-19 has negatively affected the breastfeeding rate but reported grave concerns over socioeconomic impact, gender and family dynamics, food security, and maternal mental wellbeing. Most healthcare workers have implemented complementary feeding and need support in addressing the socio-economic challenges, especially during COVID-19. Misconceptions are also widely reported among key decision-makers at the household, community, and societal levels. Findings from this project are used to re-design materials, delivery, and management of IYCF-E programming to integrate maternal mental health, conduct gender analysis, devise measures on healthy food costing and economics, and food security and livelihoods initiatives to further address and advance healthcare workers’ skills and practices to effectively implement IYCF-E practices while adapting to evolving contextual and population health needs.
Funding source
The program is currently being funded through Action Against Hunger in Syria.