In the region, only 4 out of 10 babies are breastfed

He United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) warned this Friday that in Latin America and the Caribbean only 4 out of 10 babies under six months, or 43% of the total, are exclusively breastfed, and they called on governments and companies to ensure breastfeeding in the workplace.

In addition, as Unicef ​​revealed in a statement, only 48% of boys and girls between 12 and 23 months of age are breastfed in the region, compared to the global average of 65%.

“Unfortunately, in Latin America and the Caribbean, most babies under six months are not exclusively breastfed,” he confirmed UNICEF Regional Director, Garry Conille, who expressed regret that because of this they will not be able to “prevent malnutrition in all its forms, as well as promote the well-being of children”.

Continuing on this path, we will not reach the goal of sustainable development, which aims to achieve 70% exclusive breastfeeding by 2030, he pointed out.

For Unicef, there are several reasons that hinder this practice in the region, one of which is the difficulty of reconciling breastfeeding and working life.

It also determines that the support and care policies for families in the region do not provide the necessary support to breastfeeding mothers.

Breastfeeding, challenges
A UNICEF study shows that only 14 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean guarantee the minimum 14 weeks of maternity leave recommended International Labor Organization (ILO)and only in six countries that reach 18 weeks.

It also reveals that the challenges mothers face in breastfeeding their children are also visible in the private sector.

Thus, research by Unicef ​​and Deloitte, addressed to an average of 305 companies in the region, shows that employers offer 13 weeks of paid maternity leave to full-time employees.

Regarding paternity leave, this analysis reveals that large companies guarantee an average of 11 days, while small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) grant about 9 days.

68% of large companies have breastfeeding rooms used by nursing mothers, while only 29% of consulted small and medium-sized companies have rooms of this type.

In addition to its importance to health, UNICEF believes that breastfeeding has a significant economic impact, citing estimates that “for every dollar invested in promoting, protecting and supporting breastfeeding, $35 is generated in long-term economic benefits.”

This “smart investment,” according to Unicef, would reduce the economic burden on health systems by reducing childhood illnesses such as diarrhea and pneumonia.

“Breastfeeding is essential for the health and development of children and mothers,” said Conille.

In this sense, and on the occasion of World Breastfeeding Week, UNICEF reiterated its call to governments, public institutions and the private sector to guarantee, among other things, an environment that supports breastfeeding for all mothers in paid work, including those in the informal sector. sector or with temporary contracts.

According to Unicef, these are “urgent issues” to ensure women can breastfeed for as long as they want, as “more than 500 million working women lack the basic conditions for motherhood; many more find themselves without support when they return to work. “