Infant feeding practices and associated factors following the major earthquakes in Türkiye: a cross-sectional study

This study aimed to examine infant feeding practices and associated factors among infants affected by the great earthquakes in Türkiye. This descriptive, cross-sectional study included mothers of infants aged 4-12 months who experienced earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Diyarbakır, Adana, Osmaniye, Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Adıyaman, Malatya and Hatay and who were residing in Hatay at the time of data collection. A total of 396 mothers participated in the study. All participants voluntarily completed the Family Introduction Form and the Complementary Feeding Transition Questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and χ² tests. Among the infants, 50 % were aged between 10 and 12 months and 61·6 % were male. 50·8 % did not continue breast-feeding after the earthquake, 59·6 % of infants under one year were not breastfed, and only 19·2 % were exclusively breastfed for the first six months. Additionally, 58·3 % of the infants began complementary feeding before six months of age, and 49·5 % initiated complementary feeding with jarred baby food. A statistically significant difference was observed among the number of relocations, first-degree loss due to the earthquake and continuation of breast-feeding (P = 0·016 and P < 0·001, respectively). Mothers ceased breast-feeding after the earthquake and experienced a decline in milk supply; both relocation and the loss of a relative were found to adversely affect infant nutrition. To support optimal infant feeding, it is recommended that mothers be provided with comprehensive education and counselling on breast-feeding and transition to complementary foods.