Ensuring safe and appropriate infant and young child feeding in emergency (IYCF-E) situations.
What is it?
IYCF-E focuses on supporting and promoting safe breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices in emergency settings to protect the health of infants and young children.
Why is it important?
In emergencies, children are two to seventy times more likely to die compared to the average child. Emergencies such as national disasters, conflicts, or displacement often lead to disruption in accessing nutritious food, clean water, and healthcare, significantly increasing the risk of malnutrition, illness and death of young children.
What can we do?
Breastfeeding is a lifeline during emergencies. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months provides infants with all the nutrients they need, while protecting them from illnesses through immune-boosting antibodies. In emergencies, mothers may face challenges such as stress or misinformation that impact breastfeeding. Supporting mothers to initiate breastfeeding within the first hour after birth and continue exclusively can save lives by providing essention nutrition and protection against disease.
After six months, breastfeeding should continue alongside safe and appropriate complementary feeding. Emergencies often disrupt food supplies, making it vital to ensure access to nutrient-dense foods and clean water. Proper complementary feeding supports healthy growth and development, reducing the risk of malnutrition.
Some infants are not breastfed or receive mixed feeding, requiring tailored support to ensure their safety and health. In emergency settings, it is essential to provide safe alternatives to breast milk when needed. This includes ensuring access to clean water, proper hygiene, and education on safe preparation and feeding practices.
Stress, trauma, and a lack of support can impact feeding practices in emergencies. Providing mothers and caregivers with psychosocial support, breastfeeding counselling, and access to support groups can help mothers overcome challenges and build confidence.
By prioritizing IYCF-E interventions, we can protect infants and young children from malnutrition and disease during emergencies. At IYCF-E Hub we curate and connect practitioners with resources to enable them to provide essential services to children and their caregivers.