Global breastfeeding rates rise, India yet to arrest decline

In recent years, global breastfeeding rates have shown improvement, but India has not kept pace, according to the latest figures from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5 and NFHS-6). In 2019-21, 63.7% of infants were exclusively breastfed for six months, dropping to 55.8% in 2023-24.

Ahead of World Breastfeeding Week, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF have urged for stronger support systems for mothers. While global exclusive breastfeeding rates have risen from about 37% in 2012 to over 47%, progress remains uneven across countries.

Responding to a Rajya Sabha question, the Union health ministry cited several factors contributing to India's declining exclusive breastfeeding rates, including cultural practices, family customs, personal preferences, and the use of formula substitutes. However, the ministry highlighted improvements in other areas, such as early initiation of breastfeeding within one hour and the proportion of infants under six months receiving any breast milk.

Despite these positive shifts, the ministry did not provide findings on the impact of factors like rising Caesarean deliveries, insufficient postnatal counseling, and early return to work, particularly among women in the informal sector. The ministry mentioned initiatives like the Mother Absolute Affection (MAA) programme, lactation management centers, healthcare worker training, Poshan Tracker-based counseling, and community awareness campaigns.

WHO and UNICEF emphasized exclusive breastfeeding as a vital public health measure, noting its role in providing essential nutrition, protecting children from infections, boosting immunity, promoting cognitive development, and reducing mothers' risks of breast and ovarian cancers and type 2 diabetes. The agencies suggested that scaling up proven interventions, including skilled breastfeeding support, community counseling, paid maternity leave, supportive workplace policies, and stricter regulation of breast-milk substitute marketing, could prevent nearly 400,000 child deaths and 140,000 maternal deaths annually.