{"title":"Cascading Disasters, Perinatal Wellbeing, and Infant Feeding Practices in South Alabama.","authors":"Emily Locke, Holly Horan","doi":"10.1177/10482911261423972","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The purpose of this study was to explore the ways in which cascading disasters (<i>i.e.</i>, disruptions to the environment that generate unexpected secondary events of strong impact) shape perceptions of perinatal wellbeing and breastfeeding/formula-feeding practices in south Alabama. Ethnographic research was conducted with perinatal healthcare providers (<i>n</i> = 10) and birth parents (<i>n</i> = 10) in south Alabama during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the aftermath of multiple hurricanes in 2020. Results reveal that concerns related to cascading disasters were exacerbated or eclipsed by system-level challenges that shaped breastfeeding and formula-feeding practices. Specifically, the absence of paid parental leave and community-based breastfeeding support was perceived as profoundly stressful for participants. Birth parents often had to negotiate between breastfeeding/formula-feeding decisions and their own needs. We argue that robust federal and state-level support systems are needed if birth parents and perinatal healthcare providers are to follow guidelines for breastfeeding before, during, and after cascading disasters.</p>","PeriodicalId":45586,"journal":{"name":"New Solutions-A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy","volume":" ","pages":"81-93"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1000,"publicationDate":"2026-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"New Solutions-A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10482911261423972","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2026/2/26 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore the ways in which cascading disasters (i.e., disruptions to the environment that generate unexpected secondary events of strong impact) shape perceptions of perinatal wellbeing and breastfeeding/formula-feeding practices in south Alabama. Ethnographic research was conducted with perinatal healthcare providers (n = 10) and birth parents (n = 10) in south Alabama during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the aftermath of multiple hurricanes in 2020. Results reveal that concerns related to cascading disasters were exacerbated or eclipsed by system-level challenges that shaped breastfeeding and formula-feeding practices. Specifically, the absence of paid parental leave and community-based breastfeeding support was perceived as profoundly stressful for participants. Birth parents often had to negotiate between breastfeeding/formula-feeding decisions and their own needs. We argue that robust federal and state-level support systems are needed if birth parents and perinatal healthcare providers are to follow guidelines for breastfeeding before, during, and after cascading disasters.
期刊介绍：
New Solutions delivers authoritative responses to perplexing problems, with a worker’s voice, an activist’s commitment, a scientist’s approach, and a policy-maker’s experience. New Solutions explores the growing, changing common ground at the intersection of health, work, and the environment. The Journal makes plain how the issues in each area are interrelated and sets forth progressive, thoughtfully crafted public policy choices. It seeks a conversation on the issues between the grassroots labor and environmental activists and the professionals and researchers involved in charting society’s way forward with the understanding that lack of scientific knowledge is no excuse for doing nothing and that inaction is itself a choice.
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号
