The good news: 92% of children were breastfed for some time! Hooray for moms who attempt and keep on breastfeeding! Some breastfeeding is better than none at all right?
Some more good news - higher percentage of poor children than non-poor children were exclusively breastfed. 34% of babies from poor household are exclusively breastfed. For higher-earning households, that only24%. This means that babies from poor families usually get breast milk. That's good news because this means poor households won't spend on formula.
Did you know that you are more likely to find breastfed infants in the Cordilleras than any other region? Yup, 49% or nearly half of babies are exclusively breastfed in the region, which includes Benguet, Kalinga, Apayao, Mountain Province and Abra. The region with lowest breastfeeding rate is Southern Tagalog (Cavite, Batangas, Quezon, Rizal and Laguna). In these provinces only 18.8% of babies were exclusive breastfed. In Metro Manila, 23.9% or nearly 1 in 4 babies are exclusively breastfed.
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| Source: National Statistics Office |
But this is quite disturbing: Only 27% of babies aged 0 to 6 months are exclusively breastfed! It's quite worrisome because this means moms had to supplement with formula or water within the 6 months of infancy. The World Health Organization says breast milk alone is enough for the first six months! Beyond six months, solid foods, such as mashed fruits and vegetables can be introduced. Among the common reasons for supplementing at this stage is mom having to work or that she may not be producing enough milk.
Looks like there is great need to promote exclusive breast feeding! I just hope more moms get the right information and enough support so that she can believe that in nursing while working is doable and that yes, she can make enough milk for her baby.
Read more from the 2011 Family Health Survey here.
2 comments:
[…] Latest statistics on breastfeeding show that only 27% – nearly 1 in 3 babies aged 6 months or younger is breastfed exclusively. This only shows how formula feeding is very much a norm in the Philippines. Hence the need to emphasize the goodness of going back to the breasts. Here are more reasons why breastfeeding is ideal during calamities. […]
Hi sis, laking gatas ng ina rin ako kaya naniniwala ako sa bisa nyan. HIndi ako sakitin. Breastfeeding should be promoted talaga.
Off-topic, I just want to thank you for letting me know about Medicard RxEr, napaisip ako kasi sabi mo may free annual check-up. Malaking tipid din yun. Sana may malapit sa amin na Medicard clinic. :)
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