Breastfeeding Continuity and Its Determinants Among Women After the Earthquake: Descriptive Study
Buse Alış, Pelin Demir, Ayşe Ermanoğlu, Melisa Erol, Sema Işık, Gözde Gökçe İsbirAbstract
Objective
This study aimed to examine breastfeeding continuity and the factors influencing breastfeeding among women whose breastfeeding period overlapped with the earthquakes centered in Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye, on February 6, 2023.
Methods
This descriptive study was conducted in tent and container settlements established in earthquake-affected areas. The sample included 217 women who were breastfeeding at the time of the disaster. Data were collected using a structured form addressing sociodemographic, obstetric, and breastfeeding-related variables. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) were applied in accordance with the STROBE guidelines.
Results
The mean age of participants was 28.45 ± 5.45 years; most were unemployed (95.4%) and reported that their income was lower than their expenses (78.8%). Before the earthquake, 59.0% of the women exclusively breastfed, whereas this rate decreased to 30.9% after the disaster. The most common facilitators were mothers’ motivation to keep their infants alive (29.5%) and access to transportation (20.3%). The primary barriers were unmet basic needs (30.4%), lack of privacy (22.6%), and psychological distress (21.7%). Overall, 67.3% of the women emphasized that meeting basic needs was essential for continuing breastfeeding, while only 17.5% reported receiving breastfeeding counseling.
Conclusions
This study revealed significant barriers to health care access among breastfeeding women following a major disaster. The findings highlight the necessity of incorporating breastfeeding women into disaster preparedness and response plans. Disaster interventions should prioritize safe environments, psychosocial support, and professional counseling to ensure breastfeeding continuity. Protecting breastfeeding must be recognized as a strategic public health priority within disaster preparedness and response.