August 01, 2023

Inside the campaign promoting breastfeeding as a human right

topic:	Women's rights
located:	Brazil
editor:	Ellen Nemitz

Breastfeeding is a human right. The World Health Organisation (WHO) emphasizes the importance of promoting breastfeeding as a fundamental right for children's health and development. Breastfeeding provides essential nutrients for healthy growth and development in early childhood, and is considered an important source of nutritious food. To ensure that women can continue to breastfeed while managing other social roles, the WHO also recommends that they receive support from state and non-state actors.

In Brazil, however, a research coordinated by the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) showed that although more than 96 per cent of children under the age of two have been breastfed at some point in their lives, only a few continue to receive breast milk along their first months, as recommended by WHO.

Despite recommendations for exclusive breastfeeding up to six months of age and continued breastfeeding with complementary foods up to two years of age, researchers from UFRJ highlight a significant drop in adherence to these guidelines over time. By the time infants reach four to five months of age, only 23 per cent receive exclusive breastfeeding

Moreover, breastfeeding in the first hour of life - important according to experts because it prevents newborn deaths from sepsis, pneumonia, diarrhoea and hypothermia - takes place in only two-thirds of births in some regions of the country. This is largely due to high rates of caesarean deliveries, after which the baby is not immediately brought over to the mother.

According to the study's authors, these rates put Brazil far behind the WHO target for 2030: the Sustainable Development Goals indicate that at least 70 per cent of children under six months of age should be exclusively breastfed.

"For breastfeeding patterns to improve in Brazil, and eventually reach the WHO 2030 targets, it is necessary to increase investments in breastfeeding promotion, protection and support," the researchers explain. "Special attention should be paid to legislation for working women who breastfeed, and to the implementation of breastfeeding counselling."

Supporting working mothers and positively impacting the labour market is the goal of the World Breastfeeding Week 2023 campaign promoted by the Brazilian branch of the International Baby Food Action Network.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected pregnant women, increasing the risk of unemployment and loss of livelihoods and disrupting access to prenatal, postnatal and breastfeeding services and support in the health system," reads the campaign, which will target governments, policymakers, workplaces, communities and parents. "We need to take into account the lessons learnt during the pandemic and update parental social protection policies that address the current situation."

To combat discrimination against breastfeeding women and support optimal infant nutrition, it is essential for governments and civil societies across Latin America to work together. Adequate spaces in the labor market must be created to support mothers in their careers while also accommodating their breastfeeding needs. Additionally, accurate information about breastfeeding must be disseminated to mothers to promote its benefits and encourage continued breastfeeding.

"Although breastfeeding is a natural process, it needs to be learnt, especially by first-time mothers," says Instituto Alente, an NGO that encourages and assists breastfeeding and human milk donation.

Image by Bia Octavia.