This report, published by Save the Children, uses latest evidence to explain how breastfeeding saves lives and what the rates of breastfeeding practices are across the world. The report goes onto examine the reasons why there is a lack of progress in the uptake of breastfeeding and concludes with recommendations on how to improve this.
This report, published by Save the Children, calls for recognition of the importance of breastfeeding and support to mothers to breastfeed their babies. Using latest evidence, it explains how breastfeeding saves lives and provides a picture of breastfeeding practices across the world.The report goes onto examine the reasons why there is a lack of progress in improving rates of breastfeeding, listing four key barriers that prevent mothers from breastfeeding their babies:1) Community and cultural barriers 2) Shortage in the health workforce 3) Lack of maternity legislation 4) Inappropriate marketing of breast-milk substitutesThe report concludes by offering recommendations on how to improve the uptake of breastfeeding:1) Overcome harmful cultural and community practices and challenge breastfeeding taboos2) Make the health system stronger in order to protect, promote and support breastfeeding practices3) Introduce and implement countrywide breastfeeding policies and legislation4) Improve the practices of the breast-milk substitute industry.Key messages and facts: · In 2011, 6.9 million children under five died.· Since 1990, the number of children dying a year reduced by 5 million. That’s 14,000 fewer children dying every day.· An estimated 830,000 newborn deaths could be avoided if every baby were breastfed within the first hour of life.· In the first hours and days after childbirth a mother produces her first milk, called colostrum.· This milk is an invaluable natural booster to her newborn’s immune system.· An estimated 22% of newborn deaths could be prevented if breastfeeding started within the first hour after birth, and 16% if breastfeeding started within the first day.· A newborn given breast milk within an hour of birth is up to three times more likely to survive than one breastfed a day later.· For the first six months of life, those infants not breastfed are 15 times more likely to die from pneumonia and 11 times more likely to die from diarrhoea compared to those infants who are breastfed exclusively (see this factsheet for definition). · Globally, two out of three babies are either artificially fed or fed a mixture of breast milk and other foods.· The milk formula business is valued at $25 billion (or £16 billion).