Evaluation of the Impact of Post-Earthquake Trauma Levels on Children’s Nutritional Processes in Parents Living in Earthquake Zones

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effect of post-earthquake trauma levels on children's nutritional processes in parents who live in the earthquake zone. Methods: The study population in Hatay consists of individuals affected by the earthquakes on February 6 and 20, 2023. The study is cross-sectional and descriptive. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews. Parental trauma was assessed using the “Post-Earthquake Trauma Level Determination Scale,” and attitudes towards children’s nutrition were evaluated using the “Mother’s Attitudes Towards the Feeding Process Scale.” Results: This study involved 144 parents of children aged 9–72 months living in Hatay province. Following the earthquake, loss of life and property, limited access to clean water, hygiene and sanitation, and restricted opportunities for food preparation and cooking increase the risk of malnutrition in children under five. The post-earthquake trauma level score among parents was 65.1±19.2; the attitude score towards children’s nutrition was 76.8±27.7. There is a positive correlation between both scales. As trauma levels increase, negative affect during meals, issues related to insufficient and unbalanced nutrition, force-feeding, and reaction to others’ viewpoints also rise. Conclusions: Depending on the magnitude of the earthquake’s impact, loss of life and property, limited access to clean water, food safety and security issues, and the stress and trauma it creates in parents may lead to malnutrition in children. In order to manage stress in the earthquake zone for parents and ensure adequate and balanced nutrition for children, psychosocial support, access to clean water, ensuring safe food production and consumption, conducting risk and benefit analyses of foods, and providing nutritional education should be among the main goals.