Prioritizing earthquake-prone countries for implementing the operational guidance on infant and young child feeding in emergencies (OG-IFE): a descriptive risk mapping and prioritization analysis

This study aims to prioritize earthquake-prone countries where infant and young child feeding (IYCF) is most likely to be disrupted after an earthquake and to identify preparedness gaps relevant to implementing the Operational Guidance for Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies (OG-IFE). Using secondary data from the Global Earthquake Model Foundation, we analyzed estimated average annual fatalities and average annual area damaged due to earthquakes to identify the top 20 countries globally with the highest value for each indicator. We then assessed these countries’ vulnerability to infant feeding disruptions by examining their exclusive breastfeeding rates. Out of 198 countries assessed, the findings identify 24 countries with either the highest average annual fatalities or the highest average annual area damaged values from earthquakes, and a cohort of 16 countries appears in both categories. This descriptive risk mapping analysis identifies priority countries for targeted OG-IFE preparedness investment and highlights specific gaps. Those gaps include the absence of OG-IFE translations in several high-risk national languages, which can be addressed before major seismic events occur.