3 out of 5 infant not breastfed within first hour of birth globally: Report

An estimated 7.8 crore newborns -- or three in five -- are not breastfed within their first hour of life globally which lowers their chance of survival, a new report by the Unicef and the World Health Organization (WHO) said.

According to the report, most of these newborns are born in low-and-middle-income countries, including India.

In India, however, the breastfeeding initiation within an hour after birth increased from 23.4 per cent in 2005 to 41.5 per cent in 2015. The global increase during the same period was more modest, from 37 per cent to 42 per cent, the report said.

But the early initiation rates were found significantly lower among newborns delivered by caesarean section in the country.

The report, which was released on the eve of the breastfeeding week (August 1-7) noted that newborns who breastfed in the first hour of life are significantly more likely to survive.

Even a delay of a few hours after birth could pose life-threatening consequences, it said.

Children who are not breastfed within one hour of birth have 33 per cent higher risk of death, the report said.

Breastfeeding rates within the first hour after birth are highest in Eastern and Southern Africa (65 per cent) and lowest in East Asia and the Pacific (32 per cent), the report stated.

"Breastfeeding gives all girls and boys the healthiest start in life. It stimulates brain development, boosts their immune systems and helps protect them from chronic conditions later in life.

"Breastfeeding is one of the smartest investments to boost human capital, stimulate economic growth and gives every child the same opportunity to thrive.

"We need to support all mothers to initiate breastfeeding early, exclusively breastfeed for the first six months and continue to breastfeed for at least the first two years," said Dr Yasmin Ali Haque, UNICEF India Country Representative.

The report, which analysed data from 76 countries, found that despite the importance of early initiation of breastfeeding, too many newborns are left waiting too long for different reasons, including feeding newborns food or drinks, including formula, rise in elective C-sections and gaps in the quality of care provided to mothers and newborns.

Earlier studies, cited in the report, show that newborns who began breastfeeding between two and 23 hours after birth had a 33 per cent greater risk of death compared with those who began breastfeeding within one hour of birth.

Among newborns who started breastfeeding a day or more after birth, the risk was more than twice as high.

The report urges governments, donors and other decision-makers to adopt strong legal measures to restrict the marketing of infant formula and other breastmilk substitutes.