This archive report was first published on 7 August 2019.
As the world celebrates World Breastfeeding Week, Kenya's progress in exclusive breastfeeding is a remarkable story of growth and improvement.
According to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey, in 2015, 61% of mothers practiced exclusive breastfeeding, a drastic improvement from 13% in 2003. This achievement is a testament to the government's deliberate and systematic strategies and policies in promoting exclusive breastfeeding among mothers.
Kenya remains one of only a handful of countries that have been able to meet the World Health Assembly target of increasing exclusive breastfeeding to 50% by 2025. However, the country still falls short of the World Health Organization's recommended 80% target, which is required for optimal child survival, growth, and development.
Exclusive breastfeeding offers numerous benefits to both the child and the mother. It provides the perfect balance of nutrients that the baby needs in its first six months of life, is easily and efficiently digested and metabolized, and provides protection against allergies and diseases. It also aids in the baby's cognitive, physical, and motor development, and promotes bonding between the baby and the mother.
For the mother, breastfeeding decreases the risk of developing breast cancer, ovarian cancer, Type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. It is estimated that increased breastfeeding could avert 20,000 maternal deaths each year due to breast cancer.
To address the gap and increase the percentage of exclusive breastfeeding women to 80%, it is essential to fully support the government's interventions, including the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative and the Baby Friendly Community Initiative. Some Kenyan companies have already done it, providing well-equipped private rooms for breastfeeding mothers to express and store their milk. Young mothers should also be encouraged to breastfeed anywhere and anytime, without fear of societal judgment or stigma.
