Enabling and promoting exclusive breastfeeding amongst mothers: A gift for our children's lifetime

By Radha R Ashrit

Even though breastfeeding has been shown to be protective against a variety of infectious, atopic and cardiovascular diseases, leukaemia, necrotizing enterocolitis, celiac disease, and inflammatory bowel disease, nearly two-thirds of infants are not exclusively breastfed for the recommended six months. This is a statistic that has remained unchanged for the past two decades.

Breastfeeding also has a positive impact on neurodevelopment—it boosts intelligence and reduces the chances of developing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In addition, breastfeeding results in direct savings on the use of infant formulae and bottles, as well as indirect savings on health-related costs, early deaths, and quality-adjusted life years, among others. It is also environmentally beneficial as its production and consumption produce no ecological effect. The use of infant formulae and bottles increases the risk of dental disorders such as malocclusion, altered bite, and tooth decay. Breastmilk, on the other hand, is risk-free and simple to clean.

The latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5; 2019-21) statistics have recorded the largest improvement in the percentage of children who were exclusively breastfed under six months of age, from 54.9% in NFHS-4 to 63.7% in NFHS-5. Similarly, the percentage of children between the age of 6-9 months receiving solid or semi-solid food and breastmilk also increased from 42.7% in NFHS-4 to 45.9% in NFHS-5.

This can be considered as a phenomenal, collective achievement of all stakeholders, including policymakers, national and state governments, anganwadi and ASHA workers, family members and of course the mother for accepting breastfeeding and the importance it holds in the cognitive and immunity development of an infant. Further, children under 3 years breastfed within one hour of birth has also risen by a slim margin from 41.6% in NFHS-4 to 41.8% in NFHS-5.

While improvements have been made at the all-India level, significant variations exist between states and districts that highlights the need for a data-driven, targeted approach. Almost all states and union territories have witnessed a rise in exclusive breastfeeding. Substantial increases have been noted in states like Rajasthan and Odisha; however, there are also other states that have not made similar progress, notably Jammu and Kashmir, Tripura, Chandigarh, Nagaland, Andhra Pradesh and Manipur.

By Radha R Ashrit, DDG, NITI Aayog

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