Investing in Breastfeeding: A Moral and Economic Imperative for Global Health

Strategic Insights -

As the world celebrates World Breastfeeding Week, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF are calling on countries to prioritize breastfeeding support by investing in high-quality health systems and services. In a joint statement, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell emphasized the critical importance of breastfeeding in ensuring a baby's health, development, and survival in the earliest stages of life. Despite significant progress in promoting breastfeeding in Kenya, where exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months increased from 13% to 60% between 2003 and 2022, millions of mothers worldwide continue to lack timely and skilled support in healthcare settings.

Key Takeaways:

  • Investing in breastfeeding support generates significant economic returns, with every dollar invested generating Sh4,500 (USD 35) in returns.
  • Only 48% of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed, falling short of the World Health Assembly target of 60% by 2030.
  • Millions of mothers worldwide do not receive timely and skilled support in healthcare settings, including infant and young child feeding training for doctors and nurses.
  • Kenya has made remarkable progress in promoting breastfeeding, exceeding the World Health Assembly's target of at least 50% by 2025 and the 2023 global average of 48%.
  • Nearly all (98%) children born in Kenya in the 2 years prior to the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey were breastfed, with 60% of children being put to the breast within 1 hour of birth and 83% being exclusively breastfed for the first 2 days after birth.
  • WHO and UNICEF are calling on governments, health administrators, and partners to invest in high-quality breastfeeding support by ensuring adequate investment in maternal and newborn care, increasing national budget allocations, and integrating breastfeeding counselling and support into routine maternal and child health services.

Statistics:

  • Sh4,500 (USD 35) generated in economic returns for every dollar invested in breastfeeding support.
  • 48% of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed globally, falling short of the World Health Assembly target of 60% by 2030.
  • 13% to 60% increase in exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months in Kenya between 2003 and 2022.
  • 98% of children born in Kenya in the 2 years prior to the 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey were breastfed.
  • 60% of children are put to the breast within 1 hour of birth in Kenya.
  • 83% of children are exclusively breastfed for the first 2 days after birth in Kenya.

Sources:

  • World Health Organization (WHO)
  • UNICEF
  • Kenya News Agency
  • World Health Assembly
  • Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2022
  • Breast Milk Substitutes (Regulation and Control) Act of 2012