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Infant and young child feeding during Queensland's summer of disasters: challenges and outcomes
Abstract   Peer reviewed

Infant and young child feeding during Queensland's summer of disasters: challenges and outcomes

Ruth Newby, W Brodribb and Peter S W Davies
Australasian Medical Journal, Vol.5(12), p.675
Annual Scientific Meeting of the Nutrition Society of Australia, 36th (Wollongong, Australia, 27-Nov-2012–30-Nov-2012)
2012
url
http://www.amj.net.au/index.php/AMJ/article/viewFile/1610/1010View
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Abstract

Clinical Sciences Public Health and Health Services
Background: Infants and young children are nutritionally vulnerable during emergencies and natural disasters whether families are evacuated or remain in their homes. Disruption to the mother/infant breastfeeding dyad and lack of safe appropriate foods and fluids can have profound consequences for infant wellbeing. Objective: This research following Queensland's "summer of disasters" in 2010/11 sought to identify predictors of infant morbidity amongst environmental, social and nutritional risk factors associated with natural disaster in a resource rich country. It aims to enhance knowledge of infant and young child feeding in emergency (IYCFE). Design: This retrospective cohort study used a single online questionnaire to investigate feeding issues and challenges and associated infant morbidity amongst affected Queensland infants aged less than 24 months. Degree of dislocation and disruption during the emergency was investigated including access to services and effects on feeding practice, nutrition and related morbidity. Infant visits to medical practitioners, hospital admission and a panel of symptoms were used as outcome measures. Outcomes: Lack of infrastructure for safe preparation of appropriate infant foods and fluids predicted infant hospitalisation (p=0.019), while disruption to breastfeeding practice during weather-related family dislocation predicted visits to medical practitioner (p=0.000) in this cohort (n=137). Infants aged over 6 months suffered more fever (χ2=5.21, p=0.022), runny nose/cold (χ2=9.10, p=0.003), and cough/wheeze (χ2=8.15, p=0.004) after the event than those aged less than 6 months. Infants exclusively breastfed at the event were less likely to visit a doctor (χ2=10.07, p=0.002) than those receiving no or nonexclusive breastfeeding. Conclusion: In spite of the small number of participants, this research suggests that there are challenges in providing safe nutrition and hydration to infants and young children during emergency and natural disaster even in resource rich environments, and that these challenges may be associated with infant morbidity. Recommendations for IYCFE policy are discussed. Specific evidence-based policy in IYCFE will enhance community resilience in Australia and may save infant lives.

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