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| Breastfeeding data in the Philippines
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2003 National Demographic and Health Survey
National Statistics Office |
- Out of almost 7 million children (below 5 years old),
87% were ever breastfed. This figure however includes infants
whose breastfeeding may have lasted
for only one hour, one day, or one week only.
- In fact, nearly 3.4 million children (49%) were given liquid or food
other than breastmilk within three days after being born.
- For children below 3 years old at the time of the survey,
barely 6% were exclusively breastfed.
Bottlefeeding was common for almost half of these children.
- Although 80% of children started breastfeeding within 1 day of birth, 54% were also given any liquid other than breast milk.
- Exclusive breastfeeding lasts only for an average of 24 days.
- Mothers did not breastfeed their children because:
| She does not have enough milk. |
31% |
| She is working |
17% |
| Her nipples/breasts ache |
17% |
| Her child does not want to breastfeed |
11% |
| Her child is sick |
11% |
| She is sick |
9% |
| Other reasons |
4% |
- Well-off and better-educated mothers
whose children were delivered by a health professional
were less likely to breastfeed their children exclusively.
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Make breastfeeding the only choice.
Help us urge the Supreme Court to lift the ban on
the revised Implementing Rules and Regulation
of the National Milk Code. |
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