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Breastfeeding and Infant Health in the Indian Subcontinent: Problems and Solutions

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Nutrition in Infancy

Part of the book series: Nutrition and Health ((NH))

Abstract

The fourth Millennium Development Goal set by the United Nations aspires to reduce child mortality by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015 [1]. The World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimate that exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first 6 months after birth could prevent the deaths of 1.5 million infants worldwide each year [2, 3]. According to the WHO, proper breastfeeding practices include initiation of breastfeeding within 1 h of birth, EBF for the first 6 months, and continued breastfeeding until the infant is 2 years of age [4]. EBF is the practice of feeding only breast milk (and medicine when prescribed) to the infant, and is recommended as the best feeding method for infants, as it protects against morbidity and mortality [5]. Other benefits include the immunological properties of breast milk, the long-term benefits of breastfeeding, and the decreased transmission of HIV in HIV-exposed infants when they are exclusively breastfed [4]. Unfortunately, EBF is not as widely practiced as it should be.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, 1501 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ, 85724-5155, USA

    Zaynah Tahmina Chowdhury M.P.H., Melissa A. Henderson & Ronald Ross Watson Ph.D.

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  1. Zaynah Tahmina Chowdhury M.P.H.
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  2. Melissa A. Henderson
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  3. Ronald Ross Watson Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Zaynah Tahmina Chowdhury M.P.H. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Arizona Health Science Center, Mel and Enid Zuckerman, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin, Tucson, 85724-5155, Arizona, USA

    Ronald Ross Watson

  2. Centre for Gastroenterology, and Nutrition, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom

    George Grimble

  3. Dept. Nutrition & Dietetics, King's College, Stamford St. 150, London, SE1 9NH, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

  4. Division of Health Promotion Sciences, Mel and Enid Zuckerman, University of Arizona, 1295 N. Martin Avenue, Tucson, 85724, Arizona, USA

    Sherma Zibadi

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Chowdhury, Z.T., Henderson, M.A., Watson, R.R. (2013). Breastfeeding and Infant Health in the Indian Subcontinent: Problems and Solutions. In: Watson, R., Grimble, G., Preedy, V., Zibadi, S. (eds) Nutrition in Infancy. Nutrition and Health. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-224-7_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-224-7_4

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