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Early Initiation of Breastfeeding

Early Initiation of Breastfeeding Globally, only 2 out of 5 newborns began breastfeeding within an hour of birth in 2017, leaving an estimated 78 million newborns to wait over 1 hour to be put to the breast, according to a new report from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Putting newborns to the breast less than 1 hour after birth—referred to as early initiation of breastfeeding—is an important start to life. It saves lives and provides long-term health benefits. Delaying the initiation of breastfeeding can increase the risk of neonatal infection and death. The report analyzed data from 76 countries on the rates and trends of early initiation of breastfeeding over the last 10 years. Data were obtained from household surveys, such as Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys. Estimates were not available for North American or Western European countries. Early initiation rates varied widely across regions—from 32% in East Asia and the Pacific to 65% in Eastern and Southern Africa. Limited knowledge and guidance on optimal breastfeeding practices can provide barriers to early initiation. For example, some health facilities follow outdated practices that separate mothers and infants immediately after birth, making early initiation more difficult. In other cases, the nutrient and antibody-rich colostrum is discarded and newborns are fed honey, sugar water, or infant formulas, instead. The report includes recommendations for policies and actions to improve early initiation of breastfeeding, such as increasing funding for support of breastfeeding programs that promote breastfeeding in maternity facilities and restricting the marketing of infant formula. These recommendations came on the heels of a United Nations World Health Assembly resolution that reportedly met opposition from United States officials seeking to remove language calling on governments to encourage breastfeeding and limit promotion of certain infant food products. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png JAMA American Medical Association

Early Initiation of Breastfeeding

JAMA , Volume 320 (11) – Sep 18, 2018

Early Initiation of Breastfeeding

Abstract

Globally, only 2 out of 5 newborns began breastfeeding within an hour of birth in 2017, leaving an estimated 78 million newborns to wait over 1 hour to be put to the breast, according to a new report from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Putting newborns to the breast less than 1 hour after birth—referred to as early initiation of breastfeeding—is an important start to life. It saves lives and provides long-term health...
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Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 2018 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0098-7484
eISSN
1538-3598
DOI
10.1001/jama.2018.13372
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Globally, only 2 out of 5 newborns began breastfeeding within an hour of birth in 2017, leaving an estimated 78 million newborns to wait over 1 hour to be put to the breast, according to a new report from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Putting newborns to the breast less than 1 hour after birth—referred to as early initiation of breastfeeding—is an important start to life. It saves lives and provides long-term health benefits. Delaying the initiation of breastfeeding can increase the risk of neonatal infection and death. The report analyzed data from 76 countries on the rates and trends of early initiation of breastfeeding over the last 10 years. Data were obtained from household surveys, such as Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys. Estimates were not available for North American or Western European countries. Early initiation rates varied widely across regions—from 32% in East Asia and the Pacific to 65% in Eastern and Southern Africa. Limited knowledge and guidance on optimal breastfeeding practices can provide barriers to early initiation. For example, some health facilities follow outdated practices that separate mothers and infants immediately after birth, making early initiation more difficult. In other cases, the nutrient and antibody-rich colostrum is discarded and newborns are fed honey, sugar water, or infant formulas, instead. The report includes recommendations for policies and actions to improve early initiation of breastfeeding, such as increasing funding for support of breastfeeding programs that promote breastfeeding in maternity facilities and restricting the marketing of infant formula. These recommendations came on the heels of a United Nations World Health Assembly resolution that reportedly met opposition from United States officials seeking to remove language calling on governments to encourage breastfeeding and limit promotion of certain infant food products.

Journal

JAMAAmerican Medical Association

Published: Sep 18, 2018

Keywords: breast feeding,world health

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