Home collection as a strategy to increase human milk donations during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mozambique

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic caused an economic recession and more than 6 million deaths. There were difficulties recruiting milk donors, and home milk collection almost stopped during the pandemic. Access to donated milk was blocked, and formula-feeding practices increased during the pandemic.
Methods: This retrospective study was conducted between January 2019 and December 2020, comparing milk donation and collection before and during the pandemic. Data were extracted from the milk bank database. Before the pandemic, milk donors were recruited from three health facilities in the suburban area of Maputo and the Maputo Central Hospital. During the pandemic, milk donors contacted the milk bank by telephone. A nurse visited the homes of the potential donors for testing and verification of all other donation criteria.
Results: There were 1165 milk donors, comprising 702 (60.26%) and 463 (39.74%) in 2019 and 2020, respectively. A total of 55900 ml of milk was collected in 2019 and 357,500 ml in 2020. The average volume of milk collected per month was 4,658.33 ml and
29,791.67 ml in 2019 and 2020 respectively (p = 0.000).
Conclusions: Milk donations increased during the Covid-19 pandemic.