Breastfeeding and Malnutrition in African countries Cyrina Allen
Breastfeeding and Malnutrition in African countries Cyrina Allen MPH 583 Fall 2014
Mortality Rate Statistics • Child mortality rates are the highest in Central and West African countries • In Central and West Africa 3 million children under the age of 5 die annually • 56% of the 3 million under 5 deaths could be prevented if not malnourished • In both West and Central Africa approximately 1/3 of children under 5 years old are underweight Source: UNICEF (n. d. 2)
What is Malnutrition? Malnutrition as described by the National Institutes of Health (2014) is a condition where the body doesn’t get enough nutrients. Childhood malnutrition is a significant problem all over the world, especially in developing countries. Picture Source: National Institutes of Health (2014)
Why is breastfeeding so important? RISKS BENEFITS In MOST circumstances the benefits easily outweigh any risk!
Babies breastfed vs. non-breastfed Breastfed � Breast milk offers the essential nutrients needed for proper growth � All-natural food source for baby � Convenient and readily available nutrition � Important motherbaby interaction Non-breastfed �Although most formulas provide adequate nutrients, they do not provide antibodies essential to fight of infections and disease �Formulas and other forms of infant milk are expensive Slide source: Lawrence (2000), Weimer (2001)
Breastfed vs. non-breast fed cont. • Breast milk is free • Support available in most developed countries to help with breastfeeding • Provides stimulation necessary for proper psychosocial and neurological development • Promotes birth spacing • Less illness and physicians visits • Support is hard to find in developing countries and lowincome countries • Mother-baby interaction is not as natural Slide source: Lawrence (2000), Weimer (2001)
Source: Health. Resource 4 U (2009)
Where do African countries stand in the line of malnourished persons? Source: Charts. Bin (2011)
Why is breastfeeding a problem in Africa? • Because of the low-income and developing area, most mothers and women do not have the opportunity for education on breastfeeding, promotion of it’s importance does not happen, and support measures are little to none. • HIV/AIDS is a major problem in African countries with about 60% of those infected in the sub-Saharan area as women. • In Mothers who carry HIV, the shorter the duration of breastfeeding the less likely of transmission of the virus. • Although a tradition in most African cultures, only 20% of children are exclusively breastfed. Source: UNICEF (n. d. 1)
Malnourished children of Africa…. a serious public health issue Photo source: Save the Children (2014)
What needs to be done from a public health perspective? • Provide breastfeeding education for mothers and expectant mothers • Provide support for mothers to help lengthen breastfeeding duration • Help with those whom are HIV positive to prevent spread of the disease, and offer other health options • Worldwide promotion of the importance of breastfeeding and healthy children and communities
References Charts. Bin (2011) Percentage of infants exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life. Retrieved September 17, 2014 from http: //chartsbin. com/ Free World Maps (n. d. ) Political map of Africa. Retrieved September 17, 2014 from http: //www. freeworldmaps. net/ Lawrence, R. (2000) Breastfeeding: benefits, risks and alternatives. Retrieved September 17, 2014 from http: //www. moodle. ufba. br/ MDGs in Africa (2012) How to tackle food insecurity and malnutrition in Africa. Retrieved September 17, 2014 from http: //mdginafrica. wordpress. com/ National Institutes of Health (2014) Malnutrition. Retrieved September 17, 2014 from http: //www. nlm. nih. gov/ Save the Children (2014) Program news. Retrieved September 17, 2014 from http: //savethechildren. org. / UNICEF (n. d. 1) HIV and infant feeding. Retrieved September 17, 2014 from http: //www. unicef. org/ UNICEF (n. d. 2) Promoting and protecting breastfeeding. Retrieved September 17, 2014 from http: //www. unicef. org/ Weimer J. (2001) The economic benefits of breastfeeding: A review and analysis. ERS Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Report No. 13. USDA Economic Research Service, Washington, D. C. World Health Organization (2014) Gender inequalities and HIV. Retrieved September 17, 2014 from http: //www. who. int/
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