Series L, Number 14
Issues in World Health

Better Breastfeeding, Healthier Lives

How programs and providers can help women improve breastfeeding practices

Home (Key Points)

Breastfeeding Gains and Goals
Table 1. Breastfeeding Practices Improving
Web Table 1. Early Initiation of Breastfeeding Over Time
Web Table 2. Exclusive Breastfeeding Over Time
Web Table 3. Breastfeeding at Two Years
Table 2. Breastfeeding Common but Not Usually Optimal
Web Figure 1. Most Infants Breastfed Initially
Web Figure 2. Levels of Breastfeeding Vary Widely

Comprehensive Strategies Needed

Spotlight: Madagascar’s Comprehensive Approach Improves Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding Increases Women’s Contraceptive Options
Table 3. When Breastfeeding Mothers Can Begin a Family Planning Method After Childbirth Compared with Mothers Not Breastfeeding

Centerspread: Breastfeeding Is Best
Figure 1. Better Breastfeeding Reduces Diarrhea

Women with HIV Face Crucial Breastfeeding Decisions
Figure 2. Estimated Risk of HIV Infection in Infants and Young Children

Bibliography

Credits

From INFO's Toolbox
• Counseling Aid: When Can a Woman Use LAM?
• Counseling Aid: HIV and Infant Feeding Counseling Flow Chart

Quick Look
• Box: Taking Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding
• Table: When Breastfeeding Mothers Can Begin a Family Planning Method

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on Breastfeeding "A Guide for Providers"
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Web Tables and Figures


Web Table 1. Early Initiation of Breastfeeding Over Time Change Over Time in Percent of Children Breastfed Within One Hour and One Day of Birth, 1986-2004
	Percent of Children Breastfed Within One Hour				Percent of Children Breastfed Within One Day
Country	1986-1990	1991-1994	1995-1999	2000-2004	1986-1990	1991-1994	1995-1999	2000-2004
*SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA*
Benin			24	49			63	77
Burkina Faso		29	25	33		49	44	63
Cameroon		12	38	32		30	59	60
Chad			23	34			38	42
Côte d'Ivoire		40	28			57	54
Eritrea			48	78			69	90
Ghana		16	26	46		44	54	75
Guinea		38	26			58	57
Kenya		54	58	52		84	86	82
Madagascar		6	34	62		46	79	88
Malawi		57		72		90		97
Mali			10	32			65	82
Mozambique			81	65			96	92
Namibia		53		81		82		93
Niger		20	28			29	42
Nigeria	33			32	50			63
Rwanda		18		47		49		73
Senegal		11	16	24*		45	55	61*
Tanzania		44	59			82	88
Uganda			50	31			86	86
Zambia		40	58	49		87	91	90
Zimbabwe		40	64			91	92
*ASIA & PACIFIC*
Bangladesh		8	17	24		46	55	83
India		10	16			26	38
Indonesia		8	8	39		51	52	62
Nepal			18	31			60	65
Philippines		37	40	54		62	78	80
Vietnam			28	57			83	87
*EASTERN EUROPE*
Kazakhstan			10	27*			40	62*
*LATIN AMERICA & CARIBBEAN*
Bolivia		24	39	61		65	74	84
Brazil		23	33				42	71
Colombia	45		51	49	70		82	22
Dominican Republic		34	63	69		60	82	85
Ecuador		36	27			79	71
El Salvador		14	26	32		38	56	60
Guatemala			55	60			77	80
Haiti			30	48			36	62
Honduras			43	49			77	82
Nicaragua		41	80	76		66	88	87
Peru		18	45	55		55	76	84
Paraguay	31		30	39	49		69	81
*NEAR EAST & NORTH AFRICA*
Egypt		24	40	52		63	74	87
Jordan	42		32	40	67		74	79
Morocco		51	41	52		86	81	89
Turkey		20	51	54		75	83	84
Yemen		25	48			70	69
*Final report is from 1999. It is reported in the 2000-2004 column to avoid overlapping with the previous country final report published between 1995-1999 Sources: Demographic and Health Surveys and Reproductive Health Surveys						Population Reports


Web Table 2. Exclusive Breastfeeding Over Time Change Over Time in Percent of Children <6 Months Exclusively Breastfed, 1986-2005
	Percent of Children <6 Months Breastfed Exclusively				Percent of Children <6 Months Breastfed Exclusively and Fully
Country	1986-1990	1991-1994	1995-1999	2000-2005	1986-1990	1991-1994	1995-1999	2000-2005
*SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA*
Benin			10	38			25.1	55
Burkina Faso		2	6	19		33	35	74
Cameroon		5	12	24		41	44	60
Chad			2	2			54	60
Côte d'Ivoire		3	4			62	38
Eritrea			59	52			76	81
Ghana	2.2	5.7	31.1	54	57.6	49.6	64.5	78
Guinea			11	27			65	81
Kenya	22.8	11.5	12.5	13	40	19	22	26
Madagascar		37.1	47.6	67		44.5	56.9	78
Malawi		2.1		53		29.1		70
Mali	7.8		8.3	25.4	79.2		75.1	86.6
Mozambique			30	30			65	69
Namibia		14.4		17		46		33
Niger		1.3	0.8			40	51.5
Nigeria	1			17	44			62
Rwanda		83.1		89.8

The INFO Project

Better Breastfeeding, Healthier Lives

CONTENTS

Web Tables and Figures