The missing link in India’s maternal health story
Saritha, 27, could not manage to exclusively breastfeed her sons — now aged four and eight — for the recommended first six months despite having
Saritha, 27, could not manage to exclusively breastfeed her sons — now aged four and eight — for the recommended first six months despite having normal institutional deliveries. She works as a domestic help in central Delhi’s Rajendra Nagar. Her husband drives for a ride-hailing platform and takes up odd jobs such as washing cars and serving at weddings to support the family. “I returned to work within two months of my delivery and had no option but to introduce infant formula before my sons turned six months old. If I do not work, we cannot pay rent or meet our living expenses. Every new birth comes with additional costs. Besides, my in-laws live with us and are financially dependent on us,” she said. Saritha is among a growing number of mothers in India unable to exclusively breastfeed (EBF) their infants for the recommended six months. Why EBF matters EBF is considered one of the most effective interventions for ensuring the survival and healthy development of the child. Breast milk provides all the nutrients an infant needs during the first six months of life. It contains antibodies that protect against common childhood illnesses such as diarrhoea and respiratory infections, supports healthy growth and brain development, and lowers the risk of malnutrition and infant mortality. For mothers, breastfeeding helps in recovery after childbirth and reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancers. Since it is safe, hygienic and cost-effective, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recommend initiating breastfeeding within one hour of birth and continuing it for the first six months. Consequently, trends in EBF are closely monitored in India’s Family Health Survey (NFHS) because they are important indicators of child health, nutrition and overall public health progress. Lower EBF rates can adversely affect child nutrition, increase infections and healthcare costs, and slow progress in reducing child mortality. The latest NFHS-6 indicates worrying trends. A worrying decline Despite 90.6% of deliveries in the country now being institutional, fewer infants are exclusively breastfed during the first six months after birth. Although early initiation of breastfeeding has improved from 41.8% to 50.1%, EBF declined from 63.7% in NFHS-5 to 55.8% over the same period, as per NFHS-6 (2023-24). NFHS-6 data show some of the sharpest declines in exclusive breastfeeding in India’s largest States. In Uttar Pradesh, EBF fell from 59.7% to 34.6% while in Haryana it fell from 69.5% to 41.2%. Delhi witnessed a drop from 64.3% to 54% as well. Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh also recorded declines. In contrast, Kerala, Gujarat and West Bengal registered improvements in EBF rates.
The BriefWire