Breastfeeding is important for both mother and baby. It not only provides optimal nutrition for your growing baby but also helps in emotional bonding and fast postpartum recovery for the mother. So, without a doubt, breastfeeding is crucial in your motherhood journey. To assess the progress of breastfeeding among young mothers, the Government of India started the Breastfeeding and Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices Report Card in 2019.
The breastfeeding report card is a record of all the data on breastfeeding practices and also complementary feeding practices across the country. It was launched in 2019 to assess the progress of breastfeeding practices and also address the gaps by promoting action and raising awareness on the importance of breastfeeding for mothers and babies.
The breastfeeding report card is an important indicator of the progress of breastfeeding practices in the country. It collects data across the country. This data helps the Government to identify the areas or states where breastfeeding rates are low. Identifying these areas helps to recognize the gaps and also ensure effective awareness programs in these regions.
The report card helps to formulate policies for better child health and long-term health for both the mother and child. Further, it helps to formulate strategies to overcome malnutrition in children, a major issue in India.
As mentioned, the breastfeeding report card records data on breastfeeding practices in states across the nation. The data collects key information on:
The information collected therein throws light on breastfeeding practices across the nation. This allows the Government to formulate better policies and also action plans for the promotion of breastfeeding practices in India.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare initiated the India New Action Plan. It aims to increase the introduction of breastfeeding to newborns within an hour of birth. The Government aims to target 90% of the newborn births by the end of 2025. , to achieve this target, the Government has initiated action plans and is also enabling favorable environments for new mothers.
Despite progress in breastfeeding numbers over the years, some states in India are lagging behind.
According to the WHO breastfeeding data published in 2023, only about 44% of infants from 0 to 6 months were exclusively breastfed globally. The World Health Organization, along with member nations, is striving to improve these statistics to at least 50% by the end of 2025. To achieve this target, activities, plans, and initiatives by the WHO and member countries are outlined in the Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding.
According to a survey by the National Family Health Survey 2021, only 4 out of 10 mothers exclusively breastfeed their babies within the first hour of birth. The survey also indicates that the percentage of exclusively breastfed children for the first 6 months increased over the years. However, the number of newborns breastfed within an hour of birth remains a distant target.
The India breastfeeding report is an important indicator of the breastfeeding status in the country. It sheds light on breastfeeding activities in states and areas within the states lagging in breastfeeding actions. The importance of breastfeeding cannot be undermined. Kinder Hospitals Bangalore encourages all new mothers to breastfeed their babies exclusively.
At Kinder Women’s Hospital and Fertility Centre, we provide timely care for new mothers and babies with our compassionate services. Schedule your appointment today at Kinder Hospitals Bangalore. Enjoy your pregnancy and also delivery with the Kinder team by your side.
