...From Papua New Guinea
The country introduced legislation to protect breastfeeding in 1 977. As the numbers of bottlefed babies decreased, so did the numbers of malnourished babies under years old.
(as % of total)
(as % of total)
Of the babies in 1976 found to be bottlefeeding, 69% were malnourished. Of the breastfed babies in the same survey, 26% were malnourished. The decrease in bottlefeeding by 1979 brings a corresponding decrease in malnutrition.
Source: J. Bidduiph, Professor Child Health
Advances in International Mother and Child Care 1980
... From Egypt
• Babies breastfed for 15-20 months have a 93% survival probabilility
• For babies fed only on the bottle the figure is 64%
So the difference in the mortality rate of babies breastfed only fori 5-20 months and babies bottlefed only, is a staggering 290 per 1000 live births.
Source: Journal of Biosocial Science 1981
... From Britain
Even in the developed world breastfed babies can be healthier. Of 608 infants treated for gastro-enteritis at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital. London, only 2 were breastfed.
Source: FUi Medical Journal
... From Brazil
A government sponsored study in Sao Paulo, published in April 1 980, measured malnourishment among pre-school children of poor parents.
• Among the children who had been bottlefed, 32% were malnourished. Among the children who had been breastfed for six months only 9% were malnourished
• Of the infant deaths reported in the study, all had been bottlefed in the first month of their life and half had been put on the bottle in the first week
... From the Philippines
A four-year study involving 10,000 infants at Baguio General Hospital was presented to the 1 978 US Senate Hearings. Changes in hospital practice away from routines involving bottlefed and towards routines encouraging breastfeeding brought about dramatic changes.
• Mothers and babies were put together immediately after birth
• No bottle feeding was permitted
• Pro-artificial milk posters were replaced by pro-breastfeeding posters on the clinic walls
In turn there was a marked increase in baby health.
• Baby deaths decreased by 45%
• Diarrhoea in newborns decreased by 78%
In the developing world, babies breastfed for less than 6 months are 5 to 10 times more likely to die in the next 6 months than babies breastfed for 6 months or more.
Source: World Health Organisation