Low breastfeeding rate in India
Posted on: 02/Sep/2015 10:27:19 AM
A survey has turned up shocking results that shows that, in India, less than 50% of new borns are breastfed in the first hour of birth. This is in-spite of the increasing number of institutions that help with childbirth. India ranks as one of the lowest of the South Asian countries in breastfeeding practices. These include countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The survey was conducted by the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi) 2015. India’s score was 78 out of 150. In 2012, its score was 74. The reasons for the low score have been stated as paucity of data, ineffective policies, lack of budget and coordination, and absence of better monitoring. The increase in sale of infant food, lack of family support to women, lack of support at the workplace, and inadequate healthcare are also factors. The report was prepared by the Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India (BPNI) and the Public Health Resource Network (PHRN).
Says a coordinator from BPNI, `It is not understandable why only 44% of women are able to begin breastfeeding within an hour when more than 75% of women deliver in institutions as claimed by PM Modi.` The report says that effective monitoring, a national policy on Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF), revival of baby friendly hospitals, maternity protection and provision of a nine month maternity leave are ways to improve the situation.
The WBTi is an arm of WHO (World Health Organisation). It assesses breastfeeding techniques across the world every three years. The report from this year shows that there are areas of improvement needs in all ten areas of policies and programs. It says that 26 billion children are born in India and 14.5 million do not get optimal feeding during the first year. 44.6% of women breastfeed within one hour of delivery. 64.9%are breastfed for six months and 50.5% eat complementary food within 6 to 8 months.
