Breastfeeding could prevent 820,000 child deaths every year

World Breastfeeding Week 1-7 August 2017

Alison Bough

It is estimated that 13 percent of all under-five child deaths could be prevented annually by improving breastfeeding rates.

With World Breastfeeding Week taking place all this week, it’s not just the long-term health benefits of breastfeeding being highlighted but also the lesser discussed global economic benefits.

Despite international recommendations that all children should be exclusively breastfed from birth to six months of age, these rates globally are only at 35.7 percent. The World Health Assembly’s global target is for countries to increase the rate of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life to at least 50 percent by 2025.

Dr Nigel Rollins of the World Health Organisation says the fact remains that when countries, rich or poor, support breastfeeding through meaningful investments and education programmes, it has an impact on their bottom line:

“Breastfeeding results in improved child development, with huge economics gains for individuals, families, as well as at the national level.

Commitment and investments for women’s and children’s health, including breastfeeding, will bring the global target within reach and drive progress toward other health and development goals.”

In a series of research studies into the economics of breastfeeding published last year in medical journal The Lancet, Dr Rollins and other leading experts found that globally, the costs of lower cognitive ability associated with not breastfeeding amount to more than 250 billion euro each year, a figure comparable to the entire global pharmaceutical market.

The depth and breadth of the Breastfeeding Series included 28 systematic reviews and analyses. In total, more than 1,300 studies were reviewed to provide the most exhaustive look at the benefits, determinants, and trends in breastfeeding to date. The large-scale body of evidence found that around 820,000 child deaths could be prevented annually (accounting for about 13 percent of all under-five child deaths) by improving breastfeeding rates, in addition to the lives already saved by current breastfeeding practices.

The findings also demonstrated that longer breastfeeding is associated with higher performance on intelligence tests (three IQ points on average); translating in economic terms to improved academic performance, increased long-term earnings, and improved productivity.

Katie Taylor, deputy administrator for the Global Health Council, says the evidence for the health and economic benefits of breastfeeding is stronger than ever:

“Anyone who has breastfed knows it is ‘liquid gold,’ and the scientific evidence for the many incredible benefits of breastfeeding are stronger today than ever. It is ready to use and perfectly customised for a child’s nutritional needs and immune system.

We do not need to spur technological innovations, enhance food production value chains, or incentivise end users. It doesn’t have to be manufactured by donors or transported. What we need is a greater sense of urgency to create and provide support for environments that promote breastfeeding.”