How can I disable the back button from the detail view controller?
Depending on your configuration:
self.navigationItem.hidesBackButton = YES;
OR:
self.navigationController.navigationItem.hidesBackButton = YES;
Or, if you just want to disable the button without hiding it, you can use this.
self.navigationController.navigationItem.backBarButtonItem.enabled = NO;
You can use the UINavigationItem hidesBackButton to hide it:
self.navigationItem.hidesBackButton = YES;