Telelactation Support in Emergency Situations: Experiences From the Recent Devastating Earthquakes in Turkey

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Telemedicine
• Maternal and Child Health

Background:

• Breastfeeding is recommended for infant health, but emergency situations disrupt support, increasing formula reliance.
• Disaster-affected regions often face challenges in accessing consistent healthcare services for mothers and infants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of telelactation services in supporting breastfeeding mothers after the February 2023 earthquakes in Turkey.
• To assess the impact of telelactation on exclusive breastfeeding rates, relactation success, and maternal satisfaction in a disaster context.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study analyzing telelactation counseling provided by the "Disaster Area Parent Support Group" to 46 mothers.
• Data collected between February and September 2023, focusing on consultation issues, frequency, duration, and outcomes.

Main Results:

• Exclusive breastfeeding rates increased from 6.98% to 32.56% post-intervention.
• Successful relactation was achieved in 71.42% of attempted cases.
• Mothers reported high satisfaction with telelactation support for issues like low milk supply and breast refusal.

Conclusions:

• Telelactation is a valuable tool for sustaining breastfeeding support in emergencies, especially with disrupted healthcare infrastructure.
• The study underscores the need for telemedicine training for healthcare providers to ensure continuity of care during crises.
• Future research should explore wider telelactation applications in emergency settings to improve maternal and child health outcomes.