Breastfeeding is not a luxury; it is a right of every child and the caregiver. Breastfeeding is done exclusively for the first six months and continued with supplementary food till the age of two. Breast milk is full of enriched nutrients essential for a young child, their immunity, and early brain development.
It is not only helpful for young children’s growth and development but is also beneficial for mothers. Breastfeeding children helps them establish a responsive bond with their young ones, cope with their postpartum mental health, and reduce future potential health risks. The benefits are not just limited to the mother and the child, but it is very well-researched that investments made in scaling breastfeeding have shown economic returns in the future.
However, various factors hamper this naturally beneficial process of breastfeeding. According to one of the World Health Organization reports, in Pakistan, only 18% of mothers begin breastfeeding within the first hour after birth, and just 37.7% exclusively breastfeed their babies for the recommended six months.
Unfortunately, this low rate of early and exclusive breastfeeding is linked to a concerning statistic: 44% of Pakistani children experience stunted growth, meaning they are shorter than expected for their age and may face challenges in cognitive development and other milestones. A wide range of health, personal, socio-economic, cultural, and educational barriers impact breastfeeding. Some of the most prevalent f.