Researchers from the Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work joined the World Health Organization (WHO) in developing and releasing a new guideline on breastfeeding in areas of Zika virus transmission. The guideline presents updated recommendations for health professionals working with infants, including those responsible for developing national and local health protocols, nurses, pediatricians, and general medical practitioners. Mothers traveling or living in areas at risk of Zika virus transmission can also benefit from the latest findings.
“If moms can prepare themselves for what’s coming next, and health care professionals can prepare themselves and offer the best support, babies can live and have fewer complications down the road,” said Dr. Cristina Palacios , associate professor of Dietetics and Nutrition at Stempel College and one of the lead researchers who helped develop the updated guideline. She took part in the process for WHO from start to finish, participating in:
- Planning the development of the guidelines, which included meeting with the WHO Steering Committee in Switzerland and developing key questions to conduct systematic reviews.
- Coordinating the development of the systematic reviews by worldwide experts and conducting two of the reviews with Sabrina Martinez , assistant professor of Dietetics and Nutrition at Stempel College.
- Coordinating the meetings with the Guidelines Development Group, a multidisciplinary group of experts with technical knowledge, skills and experience from all WHO regions and incorporating their input into the guideline.
- Drafting the initial version of the guideline.
The Zika virus, which spreads through mosquitos or by sexual contact, evolved into a public health emergency across the globe in 2016. Although Zika is no longer making headlines, the virus linked to severe birth defects in thousands of newborns continues to impact countries worldwide. According to a study cited in the guideline, as of July 2019, 87 countries and territories have reported mosquito-transmitted Zika cases.
The updated guideline tackles some of Zika’s unanswered questions as they relate to breastfeeding. Below are a few of the top recommendations:
Mothers infected by the Zika virus should continue to breastfeed their babies.
“If mothers get infected with the virus during breastfeeding, they can still continue breastfeeding, which is very important for most parts of the world to make sure that the baby's receiving all the necessary nutrients,” said Dr. Palacios. “The problem is when mothers get infected during the first trimester, during the development of the brain.” Dr. Palacios shares that if this is the case, mothers need to prepare to be able to feed their baby adequately as they will evidently come across feeding problems due to microcephaly, a birth defect caused by the Zika virus that causes a baby’s head to be smaller than expected .
There is a need to modify infant feeding practices for infants affected by Zika virus infection.
Infant feeding of children experiencing complications brought on by Zika virus infection should be modified to ensure “optimal infant growth and development.” This includes adjusting the environment they are in, correcting their posture, or thickening their feeds.
Mothers and babies need a strong support system. Health professionals need to be equipped with accurate infant feeding information that can help them provide quality care to mothers and caregivers of infants infected with the Zika virus. Dr. Palacios shared that this could include health professionals providing recommendations on how often a mother or caregiver should visit a doctor, or introducing these individuals to social groups which can help them have a safe space to share their challenges and get community support.
To read the guideline Infant Feeding in Areas of Zika Virus Transmission, go here .