A Spotlight piece argues that exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is weakening despite improvements in institutional deliveries and several maternal-and-child health initiatives.
EBF—feeding infants only breast milk for the first six months—is among the most effective interventions to protect infants through antibodies that reduce common illnesses such as diarrhoea and respiratory infections, support healthy growth and brain development, and lower risks of malnutrition and infant mortality.
The article cites WHO and UNICEF guidance to begin breastfeeding within one hour of birth and continue exclusively for the first six months.
Using National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) findings (2023-24), it highlights a concerning decline: while early initiation of breastfeeding rose, EBF rates fell compared with NFHS-5.
The piece notes especially sharp declines in several large states including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi, alongside some improvements in states such as Kerala, Gujarat and West Bengal.
The decline is steeper in rural areas than in urban areas.
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