Bangladesh with a rate of 64%, has emerged second among the South Asian countries in achieving the global target of Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) to children up to the age of six months.
World Health Organization (WHO) has set a global target of 50% for EBF.
The rate is 46.8% in India, 37% in Pakistan, 50.5% Maldives, 53% in Nepal, 59.5% in Bhutan and 75.8% in Srilanka.
Promotion of EBF for the first six months of life has been estimated to be the most effective preventive strategy for saving the lives of young children in low-income families, and can contribute towards the Millennium Development Goal 4 of reducing child mortality.
According to Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey 2011, currently, the breastfeeding rate is 47% within the first hour of birth while 92% among the children aged from zero to two.
WHO recommends to start exclusive breastfeeding within one hour of birth and continue until a baby is six months old. The survey also shows that one in every 19 child in the country die before reaching the age of five and
20% of these deaths can be prevented if EBF is ensured.
Dr SK Roy, chairperson of Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation (BBF), told the Dhaka Tribune that although Bangladesh has surpassed the global target of EBF, it is still far behind in terms of ensuring Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF).
IYCF is the introduction of nutritionally-adequate and safe complementary (solid) foods at six months together with continued breastfeeding up to two years of age or beyond, a right that currently around 80% children of the country are deprived of.
As a result, the number of children withstunted growth in the country was on the rise.
The survey indicates that 41% of the children aged under five were underdeveloped because of malnutrition. Among them 15.3% were found to be severely underdeveloped. The rate stands 18% among the 6 months old while 52% children aged from 18-23 months and 42% children aged between 48-59 months have been found with stunted growth.
Compared to the urban children, the rural children have been found to be more prone to underdevelopment while the rate of children with stunted growth is the lowest in Khulna and Rajshahi divisions.
According to WHO experts, malnutrition is responsible, directly or indirectly for about one third of deaths among children aged under five. Above two thirds of these deaths occur because of inappropriate feeding practices during the first year of life. Breastfeeding is the best way to provide infants with the nutrients they need, suggest the experts.
World Breastfeeding Week
Like rest of the world, Bangladesh is celebrating the current week (first week of August) as the World Breastfeeding Week with this year's slogan “Breastfeeding: A winning goal for life.”
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate a special programme on Wednesday at the capital’s Osmani Memorial Auditorium.
On the occasion, the Health Ministry, directorate of family planning, community clinics, Institute of Public Health and Nutrition and Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation have chalked out elaborate programmes including processions, rallies, training programmes on nutrition, to create awareness regarding breastfeeding and IYCF.
Dr Roy told the Dhaka Tribune that the BBF would place a proposal to establish an International Centre for Infant and Young Child Feeding and Maternal Nutrition to ensure health services of the child and mother.
