Malawi 2015-16

11.2 INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD FEEDING PRACTICES
Appropriate infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices include exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6
months of life, continued breastfeeding through age 2, introduction of solid and semisolid foods at age 6
months, and gradual increases in the amount of food given and frequency of feeding as the child grows
older. It is also important for young children to eat a diverse diet that includes foods from different food
groups that help to meet the growing micronutrient needs (WHO 2008).
11.2.1 Breastfeeding
Initiation of Breastfeeding
Early initiation of breastfeeding is important for both the mother and the child. The first breast milk
contains colostrum, which is highly nutritious and has antibodies that protect the newborn from diseases.
Early initiation of breastfeeding encourages bonding between the mother and her newborn and facilitates
the regular production of breast milk. It is recommended that children be put to the breast immediately or
within 1 hour after birth and that prelacteal feeding (feeding newborns anything other than breast milk
before breast milk is regularly given) be discouraged.
Early breastfeeding
Initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth.
Sample: Last born children who were born in the 2 years before the survey
Table 11.2 shows that 98% of last-born children born in the 2 years before the survey were breastfed at
some time. There were no major differences in background characteristics, although the percentage of
infants whose delivery received no assistance was slightly lower (94%) than those infants who received
any assistance at delivery (97-99%). More than three-quarters (76%) of infants were breastfed within 1
hour of birth, and nearly all infants (96%) began breastfeeding within 1 day of birth. Only 3% of infants
received a prelacteal feed.
Early breastfeeding practices by background characteristics:
• Children delivered by a health professional (77%) or born at a health facility (77%) were more likely
to start breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth than those delivered by non-professionals (70-73%) or no
one (63%) and those delivered outside a health facility (67-68%).
• Infants in urban areas were less likely to start breastfeeding in the first hour of birth than those in rural
areas (63% and 78%, respectively).
• The likelihood of an infant breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth varied inversely by the education level
of the mother; only 61% of children whose mothers have more than secondary education started
breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth compared with 79% of those whose mothers have no education.
• The percentage of infants who breastfed within 1 hour of birth was higher among those in the lowest
four wealth quintiles (76-78%) than those in the highest wealth quintile (67%).
Exclusive Breastfeeding
Breast milk contains all of the nutrients needed by children in the first 6 months of life and is an
uncontaminated nutritional source. It is recommended that children be exclusively breastfed in the first 6
months of their life, and given nothing but breast milk. Complementing breast milk before age 6 months is
unnecessary and is discouraged because of potential contamination and the high risk of diarrheal disease.
Early initiation of complementary feeding also reduces breast milk output because the production and
release of breast milk is stimulated by the frequency and intensity of suckling.
162 • Nutrition of Children and Women