Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
British Journal of Nutrition, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
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 analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Among the infants, 50% were aged between 10 and 12 months and 61.6% were male. 50.8 Of the mothers in the earthquake region, 50.8% did not continue breastfeeding 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 breastfeeding (p=0.016 and p<0.001, respectively). Mothers ceased breastfeeding 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 counseling on breastfeeding and transition to complementary foods.