title: Supporting breastfeeding in emergencies: protecting women's reproductive rights and maternal and infant health.
abstract: Women have the right to support that enables them to breastfeed. Supporting breastfeeding in emergencies is important because artificial feeding places mothers and children at risk. In emergencies, artificial feeding is dangerous to the infant, difficult and requires substantial resources. In contrast, breastfeeding guards infant health. It is also protective against postpartum haemorrhage, maternal depletion, maternal anaemia and closely spaced births and should therefore concern not only nutritionists, but also those involved in reproductive health. However, it is common for women's ability to breastfeed to be undermined in emergencies by the indiscriminate distribution of breast-milk substitutes and the absence of breastfeeding support. Controlling the distribution of breast-milk substitutes, providing supportive environments, and appropriate medical and practical assistance to breastfeeding women safeguards the health and well-being of mothers and babies. Greater collaboration between the nutrition and reproductive health sectors is required to promote best practice in protecting breastfeeding women and their children in emergencies.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Western Sydney, Australia. karleeng@uws.edu.au
authors.forename: Karleen D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Gribble
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McGrath
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: MacLaine
authors.forename: Lida
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lhotska
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004189:Disaster Planning; D004190:Disasters; D004630:Emergencies; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007229:Infant Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008429:Maternal Welfare / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D041941:Milk Substitutes; D011247:Pregnancy; D046269:Reproductive Rights / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000523:psychology; D012944:Social Support; D016387:Women's Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*