WIREDGOV

UK breastfeeding rates some of the lowest in the world

• Despite the benefits of breastfeeding, 1 in 5 babies in high-income countries are not breastfed at all, compared to just 1 in 25 in low- and-middle-income countries
• UK breastfeeding rates some of the lowest in the world

The number of babies missing out on breastfeeding remains high, particularly among the world’s richest countries, UNICEF said in a new analysis released today. Worldwide, approximately 7.6 million babies each year are not breastfed.

The analysis indicates that even though breastmilk saves lives, protects babies and mothers against deadly diseases, and leads to better IQ and educational outcomes, an estimated 21 per cent of babies in high-income countries are never breastfed. In low-and-middle-income countries, the rate is 4 per cent.

UK breastfeeding rates are some of the lowest in the world, and 150,000 babies in the UK never receive breastmilk in their life. Babies are much more likely to be breastfed at least once in low- and-middle-income countries like Bhutan (99%), Madagascar (99%) and Peru (99%) than those born in the UK (81%), Ireland (55%) or the United States (74%) (see table).

Sue Ashmore, Programme Director at Unicef UK’s Baby Friendly Initiative, said:   “The UK has some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world and it is a highly emotive subject. Many women have not breastfed, or have experienced the trauma of trying very hard to breastfeed and not succeeding. It is time to stop laying the blame for the UK’s low breastfeeding rates in the laps of individual women and instead acknowledge that this is a public health imperative for which government, policy makers, communities and families all share responsibility.

“Unicef UK’s Baby Friendly Initiative, which works with public services to support families with feeding and relationship building, has made great strides in improving standards of care for mothers and babies across the UK. For example, 100% of hospitals in Scotland are now accredited as Baby Friendly and their breastfeeding rates have notably improved. Unicef UK urges the UK and devolved governments to build on this progress by implementing national infant feeding strategies to create a supportive, enabling environment for women who want to breastfeed.”

Within low-and-middle-income countries, wealth disparities affect how long a mother will continue to breastfeed her child, the data show. Babies from the poorest families have rates for breastfeeding at 2 years that are 1.5 times higher than those from the richest families. The gaps are widest in West and Central Africa and in Latin America and the Caribbean, where babies from the poorest families have breastfeeding rates at 2 years that are nearly double those from wealthier families.

Percentage of children age two years in low- and -middle-income countries who are breastfed, by wealth quintile and region* (ATTACHED)

“We know that wealthy mothers in poor countries are less likely to breastfeed, but somewhat paradoxically, we’re seeing indications that in wealthy countries, it’s the poor who are the least likely,” said Shahida Azfar, UNICEF’s Deputy Executive Director a.i.” These breastfeeding gaps across income levels are a strong indication that countries, regardless of the level of wealth, are not informing and empowering every mother to breastfeed her baby.”

Factors leading to higher breastfeeding rates vary. Countries like India and Vietnam have put in place strong policies to protect and promote breastfeeding. Others like Turkmenistan have very high rates of mothers giving birth in baby-friendly hospitals**. Almost all mothers in Scotland, New Zealand and Sri Lanka give birth at a baby-friendly facility. Additionally, cultural and political contexts, including support from fathers, families, employers and communities, play a decisive role.

Through its global campaign, Every Child ALIVE, which demands solutions on behalf of the world’s newborns, UNICEF urges governments, the private sector and civil society to:

• Increase funding and awareness to raise breastfeeding rates from birth through the age of two.
• Put in place strong legal measures to regulate the marketing of infant formula and other breastmilk substitutes as well as bottles and teats.
• Enact paid family leave and put in place workplace breastfeeding policies, including paid breastfeeding breaks.
• Implement the ten steps to successful breastfeeding in maternity facilities, and provide breastmilk for sick newborns.
• Ensure that mothers receive skilled breastfeeding counselling at health facilities and in the first week after delivery.
• Strengthen links between health facilities and communities, so that mothers are ensured of continued support for breastfeeding.
• Improve monitoring systems to track improvements in breastfeeding policies, programmes and practices.

NOTES TO EDITOR

Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative

• Find out more about Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative’s Call to Action campaign http://unicef.uk/bficalltoaction
• 43% of infants in Scotland are now receiving breastmilk at six months, compared to 32% in the 2010 Infant Feeding Survey.

Breastfeeding report

The analysis is based on a variety of data sources from 123 countries. Data for low- and middle-income countries are from UNICEF’s Global Databases. Data for high-income countries are from a 2016 Lancet series on breastfeeding, except for Barbados, Oman, Qatar, USA and Uruguay which are from UNICEF. Only estimates from 2010 or more recent are presented for each country with the exception of China where the estimate is from 2008.

• Download the report and multimedia here.
• For a full list of countries, click here.
• For portraits of mothers and babies from Peru, Mali, Mongolia and Bangladesh by award-winning photographer Ilvy Njiokiktjien, click here.

For more information, please contact:

Unicef UK Media Team, 0207 375 6030, media@unicef.org.uk

About UNICEF:

Unicef is the world’s leading organisation for children, promoting the rights and well-being of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.

Unicef UK raises funds to protect children in danger, transform their lives and build a safer world for tomorrow’s children. As a registered charity we raise funds through donations from individuals, organisations and companies and we lobby and campaign to keep children safe. Unicef UK also runs programmes in schools, hospitals and with local authorities in the UK.

For more information please visit unicef.org.uk

* Analysis based on disaggregated data from 73 countries between 2010–2017 from UNICEF’s Global Databases.

** Baby-friendly hospitals or maternity facilities provide high-quality support for breastfeeding and comply with the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding of the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative.