Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Resource Review
Global leaders discuss why investment in skilled breastfeeding support is essential to achieving equitable health outcomes. This is a webinar available in Arabic, English, French, Russian, and Spanish.
Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Resource Review
Complying with the World Health Organization recommendation to exclusively breastfeed for 6 months, then practice complementary feeding until 2 years of age, is associated with improved child development and height-for-age z-score and a 67 percent decrease in the odds of stunting. This article is behind a paywall.
Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Resource Review
The Human Capital Index (HCI) suggests that, on average, a child born in sub-Saharan Africa is likely to reach only 40 percent of their full earnings potential. Because undernutrition and child mortality rates contribute significantly to the HCI, breastfeeding is a key factor in human capital development. This article is behind a paywall.
Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Resource Review
Based on research showing that providing parents continuous access to their babies after delivery improved breastfeeding before discharge, the Indian National Health Mission developed an educational series to teach handwashing skills and infection prevention, kangaroo and developmentally supportive care, preparation for discharge, and care at home.
Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Resource Review
Analysis of Humanitarian and Refugee Response Plans indicates Nurturing Care Framework (NCF) recommendations are often not included. Advocates recommend increasing investments for pregnant women and their children in humanitarian contexts, building the frontline workforce and health services to support safe and healthy births, and applying the NCF in all phases of emergencies.
Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Resource Review
Most women surveyed understood the benefits of breastfeeding and initiated breastfeeding, but household responsibilities and financial obligations frequently forced an early return to work. This led to changes in infant feeding practices, including adding breast milk substitutes. Men viewed breastfeeding as beneficial for mother and child, but reported that it was culturally unacceptable for women to breastfeed in public.
Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Resource Review
Increasing formula sales are linked to rising incomes, urbanization, social norms, women's work, medicalization, and the globalization of the industry. Companies use diverse and aggressive marketing techniques to grow their markets, including product diversification, digital marketing, and health professional co-optation. Current policies to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding are inadequate.
Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Resource Review
Articles focus on the history of the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes; the need to address unethical marketing and further implement and enforce the Code; and additional steps to take to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding.
Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Resource Review
In addition to women’s time, energy, capacity, and skill, breastfeeding requires family, health facility, community, employer, and policy support. Sociocultural factors, health care practices and policies, paid leave policies and legislation, a lack of skilled support, and aggressive marketing of breast milk substitutes all impact likelihood of breastfeeding. Greater investments to address these deficiencies will increase economic productivity and reduce health care costs.
Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Resource Review
Papers describe global breastfeeding trends, short- and long-term health consequences for mother and child, determinants of breastfeeding, the impact of investment in breastfeeding, the effectiveness of promotion interventions, and the need for coordinated global action to address breast milk substitutes.