One of the most disconcerting of problems facing the developing and underdeveloped world is infant mortality. Every year, it is estimated that almost 5 million children die within the first year of their lives. These casualties make up 73 percent of all infant mortality occurring before the age of 5. The regions with the largest share of this harrowing tragedy are West Africa and South and East Asia
Of the diseases that kill infants before their first birthdays, pneumonia, diarrhea and malaria are the three largest killers. Children living in rural areas are at greater risk of dying before the age of 5. However, the solution to reduce the occurrence of these diseases does not come at a high cost. Exclusive breastfeeding directly from the mother’s breast to the infant has been identified, by both the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, as crucial to increasing the survival chance of babies. Furthermore, breastfeeding is also beneficial for the mother’s health by reducing the risks of type 2 diabetes, breast, uterine and ovarian cancer.
In many countries with inadequate access to clean water or means of sanitizing bottles, teas or pacifiers, babies—with very little immunity—risk exposure to dysentery illness and diarrhea. However, breast milk contains enough water that is safe to consume for the baby. WHO and UNICEF recommend that for the first 6 months of a baby’s life, the mother should:
1) Initiate breastfeeding within the first hour of life.
2) Practice exclusive breastfeeding. This means the infant will only receive breast milk without any additional food or water.
3) Breastfeed the infant on demand.
4) Abstain from the use of any bottles, teats or pacifiers.
With regard to infant mortality, UNICEF also states that breastfeeding has the potential to reduce 800,000 deaths (13 percent) per year in the developing world. Furthermore, exclusively breastfed children are 14 times less likely to die within the first six months after birth. The main reason behind breastfeeding’s quality to reduce death the fact that it reduces the risk of respiratory diseases and diarrhea.
Not only that, breastfeeding has also been scientifically proven to boost the child’s IQ. A recent study suggests that parenting behaviors is what makes the difference as mothers who breastfeed are also more likely to have interpersonal interactions with, as well as read, to their children. This prepares the children for school and it promotes responses to emotional cues in children.
However, in many countries where HIV and AIDS are endemic, everyday thousands of children are contracting HIV through their mothers. As of 2012, it is estimated that between 32.2 and 38.8 people are living with HIV. Women make up an average 50 percent and in certain regions up to 60 percent of those living with HIV. This causes many mothers to use formulas instead. Consequently, many women who are HIV-positive are advised to not breastfeed their children. Unfortunately, for mothers in low-income countries, these formulas may not always be affordable and they are at risk of buying substandard milk formula for their children.
Despite the unhygienic nature of certain locations in low-income countries, WHO believes that if mothers who are HIV-positive take antiretroviral throughout the breastfeeding period they can significantly reduce the risk that the child may contact HIV. Notwithstanding, in some countries, health workers still lack the knowledge to correctly advise mothers with HIV and instead advise mothers to opt for formula instead, greatly jeopardizing the health of newborns and inadvertently increasing infant vulnerability.
The dilemma that women with HIV in low-income countries must face demonstrates the need for better sanitation in low-income countries. While women in high-income countries with HIV may decide to use formula to feed their babies with minimal risk of contracting life threatening illnesses, for women in low-income countries the lack of proper sanitation is so dire that they are advised to breastfeed their children rather than use substitutions; certainly this is a difficult choice for any mother to make. Thus, this predicament highlights another reason why development aid is so important for low-income countries.
Sources: NPR, PsyBlog, UNICEF, WHO, WHO, WHO
Photo: Global Giving