Exclusive breastfeeding: A chance for survival

The lives of almost 1.5 million infants could be saved every year if for the first six months of life they were exclusively breastfed. That means nothing but breastmilk—no solids, no other liquids, not even water.

Data from 69 developing countries, including new estimates from 40 countries since last year’s report, show that half of them have exclusive breastfeeding rates below 25%, with 14 countries at 10% or less. In only 15 countries are 50% or more of the infants exclusively breastfed. 

The good news is that the number of countries gathering data has more than doubled since 1993, when only 32 developing countries had data on breastfeeding.

For optimal nutrition and protection against disease, exclusive breastfeeding is recommended. After the first six months of life, to ensure their healthy development and survival, babies should be given nutritious food together with breastmilk. They also need good care and access to health services. 
 
 

Photo:UNICEF/87-0006/Tolmie
The `kangaroo' technique, used in the absence of incubators, keeps premature babies, like this one in Colombia, warm and in constant contact with their mothers.
 
 
10% and under 
Developing countries with exclusive breastfeeding rates of 10% or less		 50% and over 
Developing countries with exclusive breastfeeding rates of 50% or more
%  %
Niger  1 Rwanda 90
Nigeria  2 Burundi 89
Angola  3 Ethiopia 74
Côte d'Ivoire  3 Tanzania 73
Haiti  3 Uganda 70
Central African Rep.  4 Egypt 68
Thailand  4 Eritrea 65
Cameroon  7 China 64
Paraguay  7 Mauritania 60
Maldives  8 Bangladesh 54
Senegal  9 Turkmenistan 54
Dominican Rep. 10 Bolivia 53
Togo 10 Iran 53
Trinidad/Tobago 10 India 51
Guatemala 50
 
Data refer to infants under four months of age.  
Sources: DHS, MICS and other nationwide surveys, 1987-1996.
 
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