Despite the ample benefits of breastfeeding–notably in development and body defence–only 48% of the world’s infants are exclusively breastfed. This falls short of the 60% target set by the World Health Assembly for 2030.
This lag hints at a deeply layered crisis. Healthcare systems are often too fragmented and underfunded to provide consistent breastfeeding care. New mothers across the globe typically leave hospitals with little guidance, creating a gap that continues into early childhood.
As the world honours breastfeeding this week, the WHO and UNICEF have urged countries to invest in maternal care systems and training for frontline healthcare personnel.
The case for promoting breastfeeding is just as economic as it is medical. Every dollar invested in breastfeeding generates an estimated $35 in economic returns through improved health, productivity and reduced healthcare costs.
Across the world, only a fifth of countries currently provide structured infant-feeding training to doctors and nurses. This means that the majority of health workers who attend to nursing mothers are unequipped to offer breastfeeding guidance.
This shortfall in qualified personnel is, in part, attributed to underinvestment. Healthcare systems in many low- and middle-income countries are ill-equipped, aggravated by poor water sanitation and food insecurity.
The outcome is evident in communities where formula marketing is widespread. More often than not, mothers often stop breastfeeding early, leaving millions of infants vulnerable to infections, malnutrition, and even death.
Practised optimally, breastfeeding can prevent over 820,000 child deaths globally every year. Beyond infancy, it supports brain development, improves IQ, and lowers the risk of obesity and chronic diseases later in life.
WHO and UNICEF have recommended a slew of actions, such as increasing budget allocations for breastfeeding programmes, training all levels of healthcare providers in breastfeeding support and protecting mothers from aggressive marketing of breastmilk substitutes by enforcing the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes.
Integrating breastfeeding counselling into antenatal, postnatal and routine child health services is also important. Community health systems must be strengthened to offer mothers ongoing support, especially during the first six months when exclusive breastfeeding is most critical.
Still there are subtle factors at play, from cultural to economic. In many settings, women return to work without maternity leave or lactation spaces, forcing early weaning. Others, like those in rural populations, face stigma as well as a lack of partner and community support.
Without sustainable action, the world risks reversing progress made in maternal and child health over decades. But with the right investments, the outcome could be transformative: healthier babies, empowered mothers, and stronger nations.
As the press statement by the WHO and UNICEF read, “Supporting breastfeeding is not a luxury. It is a health imperative, a human rights issue, and a moral responsibility.”
Despite the well-documented benefits of breastfeeding, only 48% of the world's infants are exclusively breastfed, falling short of the 60% target by 2030 set by the World Health Assembly. This shortfall is largely due to underfunded and fragmented healthcare systems that fail to provide the necessary breastfeeding support and guidance to new mothers. Both WHO and UNICEF stress the importance of investing in healthcare systems and maternal care, as each dollar spent on breastfeeding generates significant economic returns through improved public health.
The inadequacy of structured training for healthcare professionals is another critical issue, with only 20% of countries offering it, leaving many health workers unprepared to support breastfeeding mothers. This gap is exacerbated by underinvestment in health systems, particularly in low and middle-income countries, where poor water sanitation and food insecurity further complicate breastfeeding efforts.
Aggressive marketing of breastmilk substitutes worsens the situation, influencing mothers to stop breastfeeding prematurely, posing health risks for infants who benefit significantly from breastfeeding in terms of reducing mortality, improving cognitive development, and decreasing risks of obesity and chronic diseases. WHO and UNICEF recommend actions such as increased funding, comprehensive training for healthcare providers, and protection against aggressive marketing of formula milk to support breastfeeding initiatives.
Cultural and economic factors also impact breastfeeding, with many women lacking maternity leave or lactation spaces and facing social stigmas or inadequate community support. Without decisive and sustainable action, the progress in maternal and child health could regress, but with appropriate investments, the benefits could be transformative, resulting in healthier children, empowered mothers, and stronger communities.
