Achieving 65% Compliance in Exclusive Breastfeeding by 2025: A Pathway for Nigeria
Source: https://guardian.ng/
Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months is vital for infants’ health and development, offering essential nutrients and protection against illnesses. In Nigeria, aiming for a 65% compliance rate by 2025 is both ambitious and attainable. Achieving this goal requires increased public awareness, supportive policies, improved healthcare, community involvement, and robust monitoring and evaluation.
UNICEF and WHO advise that breastfeeding should start within the first hour of birth and continue exclusively for the first six months. Midwives reinforce this message to first-time mothers during antenatal visits. After six months, infants should receive safe, nutritious complementary foods while continuing breastfeeding up to two years or beyond.
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, represented by Patricia Deworitshe, will participate in a global breastfeeding campaign from August 1 to 7. The week will start with a record-breaking event of simultaneous breastfeeding by lactating women. Activities include community outreach, health worker training, and media campaigns.
The global campaign highlights the collective responsibility to support successful breastfeeding. Additionally, UNICEF and the Global Breastfeeding Collective will host a virtual meeting on August 6 to discuss how monitoring breastfeeding policies can drive accountability and change, urging increased global investment in breastfeeding.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE by Tomi Ajetunmobi and colleagues highlights that breast milk can enhance child health equity and reduce healthcare costs by lowering childhood illnesses and healthcare use. Also, a study published in the Nurse Care Open Access Journal on first-time mothers’ experiences with exclusive breastfeeding in Kafue, Zambia, identified three key themes: difficulties in initiating and maintaining breastfeeding, psychological challenges related to coping, and inadequate support networks.
The study revealed that first-time mothers faced various obstacles with exclusive breastfeeding and found that information from healthcare providers was often insufficient. Although nurses and midwives provided practical support initially, it was limited to the first six weeks postpartum, and in some cases, the support was either lacking or not conducive to exclusive breastfeeding.
First-time mothers often face significant challenges with exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) due to their inexperience, which negatively impacts their perceptions and practices. Without sufficient practical support during the perinatal period, successful EBF is unlikely. Researchers suggest that educating mothers on breastfeeding complications and incorporating breastfeeding clinics in Maternal and Child Health Departments could improve EBF practices.
Initiating breastfeeding within an hour of delivery boosts the likelihood and duration of breastfeeding, leading to higher exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates, even for first-time mothers. Exclusive breastfeeding promotes sensory and cognitive development, protects against diseases, and fosters mother-infant bonding, providing warmth and security for the newborn.
BENEFITS OF EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING:
Studies worldwide highlight that breastfeeding surpasses other infant feeding methods, providing significant cognitive, psychological, physiological, social, and economic benefits. It offers both immediate and long-term advantages for mothers and babies, with breast milk containing over 200 essential nutrients that adapt to an infant’s changing needs. Optimal breastfeeding could prevent around 823,000 child deaths and 20,000 maternal deaths from breast cancer annually, and save about $300 billion globally.
Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is the most cost-effective way to reduce infant mortality. It significantly lowers the risk of childhood illnesses, including diarrhea, pneumonia, middle ear infections, respiratory infections, and intestinal tissue damage. EBF also reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, allergic diseases, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and childhood leukemia. Additionally, it provides protection against necrotizing enterocolitis in premature and low birth weight infants.
Breastfeeding not only reduces the risk of infections but also lessens their severity and duration, saving about 1.5 million infants globally each year. Breast milk, especially colostrum, provides initial immunity with antibodies and proteins, reducing the likelihood of allergies and conditions like eczema and asthma. It also supports gut microbiota, protecting against infections such as Salmonella, Listeria, and Campylobacter. UNICEF found that in 2014, breastfed infants in developing countries were at least six times more likely to survive their first month compared to non-breastfed infants.
Breast milk plays a crucial role in brain development, with exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) linked to better cognitive performance and higher IQs in children compared to those who are not breastfed. This benefit is partly attributed to the physical closeness and eye contact during breastfeeding, which is especially important for preterm babies at higher risk for developmental issues.
EBF also supports better growth, reducing stunting, and offers significant benefits to mothers. These include faster uterine recovery, reduced postpartum hemorrhage risk, decreased psychological stress, and lower rates of postpartum depression. Additionally, EBF stimulates prolactin release for milk production and is associated with a lower risk of breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancers, as well as reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
Research indicates that frequent nighttime breastfeeding acts as a natural contraceptive by delaying menstruation through the Lactation Amenorrhea Method, which helps in family planning.
STEPS TO ACHIEVE COMPLIANCE IN EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING
Public Awareness Campaigns : To boost exclusive breastfeeding rates, it is essential to improve public awareness through media campaigns and community outreach. These efforts should educate mothers and families about the health benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, including lower infant mortality, better growth and cognitive development, and stronger disease immunity.
Supportive Policies: Supporting breastfeeding requires implementing key policies such as extending maternity leave, creating breastfeeding-friendly workplaces, and protecting breastfeeding mothers’ rights. Extended paid maternity leave enables mothers to spend more time with their infants during crucial early months, supporting exclusive breastfeeding.
Healthcare workers: are crucial in promoting exclusive breastfeeding. Training them in breastfeeding counseling and support can greatly improve breastfeeding practices. Hospitals and clinics should follow the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) guidelines to encourage breastfeeding from birth.
Community Engagement: Engaging community leaders, traditional birth attendants, and local influencers can boost grassroots support for exclusive breastfeeding. They can share information, offer support, and address cultural barriers. Community-based interventions, like breastfeeding support groups, also provide practical help and encouragement.
Monitoring and Evaluation: Implementing strong monitoring and evaluation systems is crucial for tracking progress in breastfeeding rates and practices. Data collection helps assess strategy effectiveness, and regular evaluations guide policy adjustments and resource allocation, ensuring continued progress toward the 65% compliance goal.
CONCLUSION:
Achieving a 65% exclusive breastfeeding rate by 2025 in Nigeria requires coordinated efforts across multiple sectors. Focusing on public awareness, supportive policies, healthcare improvements, community engagement, and effective monitoring can create a supportive environment for exclusive breastfeeding. This will enhance the health and development of Nigerian children and contribute to broader public health and sustainable development goals.
Image Source: https://guardian.ng/
