Breastfeeding Saves Lives But Can’t Compete With Agressive Marketing

Dhaka maternity hospitals encourage exclusive breastfeeding. Credit: Sujan-map/IPSBy Lyndal RowlandsUNITED NATIONS, May 11 2016 (IPS)Despite its many lifesaving benefits breastfeeding still struggles to compete with the marketing used by the multi-billion dollar baby formula industry, according to a new report published this week.“Aggressive and inappropriate marketing of breast-milk substitutes, and other food products that compete with breastfeeding, continues to undermine efforts to improve breastfeeding rates,” a new report published this week by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) found.Considering the multitude of benefits associated with breastfeeding it is confusing to find that the rates of breastfeeding worldwide are worryingly low.“Globally, nearly two out of three infants are not exclusively breastfed for the recommended 6 months – a rate that has not improved in two decades,” the report found. An increase in breastfeeding rates could save 800,000 child lives every year, according to a major Lancet study published earlier this year.However, breastfeeding could benefit from better promotion. An increase in breastfeeding rates could save 800,000 child lives every year, according to a major Lancet study published earlier this year.Breastfeeding also benefits mothers. An increase in breastfeeding could prevent 20,000 deaths from breast cancer every year, the study also found.Perhaps ev...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: Global & Universal Authors: Tags: Development & Aid Economy & Trade Featured Food & Agriculture Gender Global Governance Headlines Health IPS UN: Inside the Glasshouse Population Poverty & SDGs Trade & Investment Women's Health breastfeeding Unicef WHO Source Type: news