KARACHI: The association between bottle-feeding trend and child mortality cases in Pakistan is emerging as a major public health issue, according to specialists. According to estimates, a lack of breast milk feeding is responsible for around 33,700 fatalities per year. These statistics demonstrate how there is now a substantial difference between the recommended approach to raising infants and actual household practices.
Bottle-Feeding Trend: A Troubling Start for Many Newborns
From the information available, only one in every five infants gets breast milk within an hour after birth, which is considered crucial by healthcare professionals as far as the immunity system development of the child is concerned. Alongside low breastfeeding rates within the initial hours, another worrying trend witnessed among Pakistani families is the increasing use of baby bottles and formula milk.
The Sindh Institute of Child Health & Neonatology organized a media briefing at the Karachi Press Club on this topic. According to experts, around 33,700 children die each year as a result of suboptimal breastfeeding practices. The experts revealed that most deaths occur because of easily preventable or curable illnesses like diarrhea and pneumonia.
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According to health professionals, only 48% of infants aged less than six months are exclusively fed with their mother’s milk. This represents a far cry from international guidelines recommending 100% exclusive breastfeeding in this age group. Health authorities highlighted that non-breastfeeding increases mortality rates by 15%. This indicates that breast milk plays a vital role in boosting an infant’s initial immunity against several ailments.
It was highlighted that starting breastfeeding immediately after birth and exclusively depending on mother’s milk till the age of six months will prove highly beneficial for future health outcomes. The recommendations coincide with international standards regarding pediatric care, indicating that breastfeeding within the initial days of birth and exclusively until six months is perhaps one of the best measures to protect children against disease and mortality.
It was important to note that the experts emphasized that breastfeeding does not only lie within the remit of mothers. It became evident that there should be joint efforts from all parts of the community from fathers, families, physicians, medical facilities, and even workplaces to ensure that women are provided with an enabling environment to feed their babies through their milk. This perspective marks a paradigm shift from a blame-game mentality towards collective responsibility.
In conclusion, the experts felt that backing mothers through such programs ensured better generations ahead and viewed improvements in breastfeeding as a long-term health investment rather than merely an individual choice within families.