Between Destruction and Life: A Holistic Approach to Breastfeeding and Midwifery Care in Disaster Situations

Memiş K. N., Kır E.

12. Uluslararası 16. Ulusal Ebelik Öğrenci Kongresi, Karabük, Türkiye, 14 - 16 Mayıs 2026, ss.23-25, (Özet Bildiri)

  • Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Özet Bildiri
  • Basıldığı Şehir: Karabük
  • Basıldığı Ülke: Türkiye
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.23-25
  • Yozgat Bozok Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Disasters are devastating events that threaten individuals' physical, psychological, economic and social integrity and disrupt social life. Under these extraordinary circumstances, nutrition is one of the most essential needs among basic requirements such as shelter and security. Newborns and children are among the risk groups most affected by disasters due to their underdeveloped immune systems, lack of hygiene and malnutrition. After a disaster, the mortality rate among infants under two years of age increases approximately 20-fold, and malnutrition is the leading cause of death.

Breast milk is an example of biological perfection, protecting the baby against infections through its immunoglobulin A, lactoferrin and various antimicrobial factors, while also providing all nutrients completely. In emergency situations, breast milk remains the first and most reliable option for infant feeding in disaster conditions because it does not require clean water, fuel or sterile equipment, reduces the risk of contamination to almost zero, and is cost-effective. Misconceptions such as stress stopping milk production or malnourished mothers being unable to breastfeed are invalid according to scientific evidence; with regular breastfeeding stimulation, milk production can increase within 72 hours, and interrupted breastfeeding can be restarted through relactation.

In disaster environments, the most critical role in protecting maternal and newborn health falls to midwives, who are an indispensable component of primary healthcare. The main purpose of midwives is to guide mothers from birth onwards in initiating, maintaining and restarting breastfeeding when interrupted, to teach correct breastfeeding techniques, to ensure mother-infant skin-to-skin contact, and to organize nutritional support for mothers. Furthermore, midwives should raise awareness among families about the infection risks associated with formula and bottle use, actively participate in field coordination to prevent unnecessary formula donations, and help mothers cope with stress by providing psychosocial support.