Bottle feeding higher than breastfeeding in Pakistan

22 per cent of neonatal deaths can be prevented if
breastfeeding is initiated within first hour by all mothers

Rawalpindi

It is unfortunate that exclusive breastfeeding rate in Pakistan is lowest in the region. Breastfeeding rate is at a dismal 38 per cent and bottle feeding is 41 per cent which is really worrisome for all the stakeholders.

Prolonged breastfeeding for two years does protect the infant from early malnutrition and serious infections such as pneumonia and diarrhoea. Twenty-two per cent of neonatal deaths can be prevented if breastfeeding is initiated within the first hour by all mothers. Globally suboptimal breastfeeding contributes to 800,000 infant deaths.

There is 10 times greater chance of dying from diarrhoea and 15 times greater chance of dying from pneumonia for infants not breastfeed. Pneumonia and diarrhoea remain the biggest killers in Pakistan. We can save countless lives by encouraging women and let them know that breast milk and nothing but breast milk is the only choice for the baby.

Head of Community Medicine at CMH Lahore Medical College Professor Dr. Muhammad Ashraf Chaudhry expressed this while talking to ‘The News’ in connection with World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) which is celebrated every year from 1-7 August to encourage breastfeeding and improve the health of babies around the world.

The theme of WBW 2016 is “Support mums to breastfeed anytime, anywhere” as all of the society has a role to play in making our communities more breastfeeding friendly.

Virtually all mothers can breastfeed, provided they have accurate information, and the support of their family, the health care system and society at large. Many mothers who return to work abandon breastfeeding partially or completely because they do not have sufficient time, or a place to breastfeed, express and store their milk. Mothers need a safe, clean and private place in or near their work to continue breastfeeding.

Dr. Ashraf said breast milk is safe, clean, hygienic, and inexpensive and readily available to the infant at correct temperature. It contains disease fighting cells and proteins called antibodies that help protect infants from germs and illness such as diarrhoea and respiratory infections. Most babies find it easier to digest breast milk than formula milk. Suckling is good for development of teeth and jaws. Breastfeeding reduces the risk of hypertension, (high blood pressure), diabetes, asthma, and obesity in children in their future life, he said.

As far as benefits of breastfeeding for mother are concerned, he said it promotes bonding between mother and baby. Lactation prolongs postpartum amenorrhoea and provides protection against pregnancy (natural contraceptive). It also helps the uterus to get back to its original size and lessens any bleeding a woman may have after giving birth. Breastfeeding mothers have protection from postpartum depression, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, risk of hip fracture, osteoporosis after menopause and diabetes. Breastfeeding makes life easier. It saves time and money, he said.

He added the WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding until a baby is six months old and continued breastfeeding with the addition of nutritious complementary foods for up to two years or beyond.

In spite of numerous advantages of breastfeeding and risks of artificial feeding, breastfeeding has started appearing to be a lost art and the feeding bottle usurped the breast. Despite the marked advantages of breastfeeding, its popularity has declined in many parts of the world. Global data show that only 38 per cent of infants below six months of age are exclusively breastfed, whereas WHO plan is that by 2025, at least 50 per cent of the babies should be exclusively breastfed, said Dr. Ashraf.

He added that in Pakistan, there is 85 per cent exclusive breastfeeding at one month, with the figure plummeting to 55 per cent at two months and then to 37 per cent at six months. “This proportion is very low with the recommended 100 per cent exclusive breastfeeding for children under six months.”

Talking of the factors that discourage or cause discontinuation of breastfeeding, he said that misconceptions of mothers merely following the ‘fashion’ inadequate milk, exhaustion, lack of supporting environment, lack of counselling on the part of health care providers, and aggressive marketing of formula milk producers etc, placid role of the government in discouraging the so-called ‘substitutes’ of breast milk and non- implementation of breastfeeding ordinance 2002 are major factors.

He said it is a fact that in Pakistan healthcare providers do not have time to counsel new mothers. Breastfeeding counselling, an important source of support for mothers, has been shown to improve breastfeeding practices. The awareness and behaviour of families and community need to be altered positively to promote breastfeeding through raising awareness among masses by using all channels of mass communication, he said.

Dr. Ashraf suggested that Lady Health Workers should be mobilised for promotion of breastfeeding as they are the delivery agents at the household level. UNICEF and Ministry of Health (Nutrition Wing) should involve Ulema to sensitise the people that breastfeeding for two years is also in accordance with Islamic teachings. Breastfeeding may be included as a subject in the medical, nursing and midwifery curricula, he said.