About this Research Topic
Infant feeding during emergencies is a critical area of research, particularly given the heightened risks of undernutrition and increased child mortality rates in such contexts. Infants and young children are among the most vulnerable populations during crises, where interrupted breastfeeding and inappropriate complementary feeding can lead to severe health consequences. Environmental factors such as water, hygiene, and sanitation (WASH), food insecurity, and psychological trauma further exacerbate these risks. Despite the well-documented benefits of breastfeeding, including reduced morbidity, improved cognitive outcomes, and economic advantages, emergencies often disrupt breastfeeding practices. Global health recommendations have emphasized the importance of alternative feeding methods, such as wet nursing, donor human milk, milk banking, and re-lactation, especially in high-risk scenarios. However, the implementation of these alternatives remains inconsistent, highlighting a significant gap in emergency preparedness and response.
This research topic aims to compile state-of-the-art research that illustrates experiences and interventions in humanitarian, fragile, or development contexts to support non-breastfed infants. The goal is to explore how the recommendations of the Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies (IYCF-E) Operational Guidance and the Sphere Standards are being implemented. By focusing on safer alternatives to maternal breastfeeding, this research seeks to answer critical questions about the effectiveness of these interventions, the challenges faced, and the lessons learned. The objective is to provide a comprehensive understanding of how to best support infants who cannot be breastfed by their biological mothers during emergencies.
To gather further insights into the range and limitations of this research topic, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Wet nursing in humanitarian, fragile, and development contexts: experiences, lessons learned, and recommendations
• Re-lactation in humanitarian, fragile, and development contexts: experiences, lessons learned, and recommendations
• Human donor milk in humanitarian, fragile, and development contexts: experiences, lessons learned, and recommendations
• Human milk banks for newborns and non-breastfed infants during disasters and emergencies
• The last resort: infant formula feeding for formula-dependent infants in emergency and fragile environments—how it worked, what was learned, and recommendations
This research topic aims to compile state-of-the-art research that illustrates experiences and interventions in humanitarian, fragile, or development contexts to support non-breastfed infants. The goal is to explore how the recommendations of the Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies (IYCF-E) Operational Guidance and the Sphere Standards are being implemented. By focusing on safer alternatives to maternal breastfeeding, this research seeks to answer critical questions about the effectiveness of these interventions, the challenges faced, and the lessons learned. The objective is to provide a comprehensive understanding of how to best support infants who cannot be breastfed by their biological mothers during emergencies.
To gather further insights into the range and limitations of this research topic, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Wet nursing in humanitarian, fragile, and development contexts: experiences, lessons learned, and recommendations
• Re-lactation in humanitarian, fragile, and development contexts: experiences, lessons learned, and recommendations
• Human donor milk in humanitarian, fragile, and development contexts: experiences, lessons learned, and recommendations
• Human milk banks for newborns and non-breastfed infants during disasters and emergencies
• The last resort: infant formula feeding for formula-dependent infants in emergency and fragile environments—how it worked, what was learned, and recommendations
Keywords: infant feeding in emergencies, IYCF-E, breastfeeding in emergencies, wet nursing, relactation, donor human milk, milk banking, formula feeding
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
