PENDAMPINGAN IBU MENYUSUI DALAM PEMBERIAN ASI EKSKLUSIF PADA MASA PANDEMI COVID-19

Abstract

Exclusive breasfeeding is the most appropriate food given to infants. In the COVID-19pandemic,  infants must be given exclusive breast milk to maintain the immunity of the infant's body. The exclusive breastfeeding in the COVID-19pandemic can not be released from the behavior of mothers in breast-feeding to require the assistance of external parties including lecturers in health colleges to provide knowledge related to health protocols that need to be executed in the provision of breastfeeding. The purpose of this mentoring was to improve the knowledge and skills of breastfeeding mothers in the COVID-19 pandemic. Mentoring was done to 26 primipara’s breastfeeding. Mentoring was given as counseling in the form of voice recording and material about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding in the COVID-19 pandemic, substances contained in the breast milk, the benefits of breastfeeding and video about breastfeeding techniques in the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of the mentoring obtained amount of 85% breastfeeding mothers have good knowledge, 100% can practice the technique of breastfeeding well and the amount of 88% of mothers given exclusive breastfeeding until the age of 6 months. Mentoring in breastfeeding mothers conducted through the WhatsApp application proved to improve the knowledge and skills of breastfeeding mothers, and also can improve the success of exclusive breastfeeding.