Table 5 Results from the SWOT^a analysis

Strengths

• Follow-up of the World Breastfeeding Week’s activities

• Recommendations to keep breastfeeding during the pandemic

• Mexican Ministry of Health’s efforts to promote breastfeeding during the pandemic

• Comments about the importance of breastfeeding from Mexican Ministry of Health’s and UNICEF’s experts

Weaknesses

• Lack of female representation in decision-making at the policy level and in breastfeeding events

• Lack of meaningful public policies to protect breastfeeding

• Separation of mother-infant dyads during the birth hospitalization period during the COVID-19 pandemic

Opportunities

• UN agencies’ general nutrition recommendations during the pandemic, and breastfeeding highlighted as a measure to combat food vulnerability and insecurity

• New Cooperation Program between UNICEF Mexico and the Mexican government for the 2020–2025 period, where breastfeeding protection and promotion can be incorporated

• Non-governmental organizations’ demands to regulate BMS donations during the pandemic, which were promoted by pharmacies and BMS companies to the general public

Threats

• Increase of marketing of BMS during the pandemic^b

• Employment and household work inequities during lockdown measures (i.e., women taking a disproportionate role in caring for children)

• Increasing C-section rates, which are associated with reduced breastfeeding

• Influence of medical doctors on women’s decisions not to breastfeed