According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-3, Assam ranks second in the entire country as far as breastfeeding is concerned.
The statistics show that around 63.1 per cent women exclusively breastfeed their children (no additional food, water, or other fluids, except medicines and vitamins, if needed).
On the occasion of World Breastfeeding Week, programme manager of Save the Children, Rajan Mohanty, said, "There is low awareness about early breastfeeding and exclusive feeding among both the poor and affluent sections of society. Though Assam ranks second in the entire country, the rate of breastfeeding is very low here. It has several benefits and is good for the emotional and physical well-being of both the mother and baby."
He said exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months can prevent malnutrition in children. In Assam, as per NFHS-3, about 35.8 per cent children are underweight. "The government should monitor and implement Infant Milk Substitutes, Feeding Bottles and Infant Foods Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution Act, 1992. It should also ensure proper child feeding practices following World Health Organization guidelines. The government should expand the role of communities in raising awareness and increase the number of heath workers," he added.
Tonma Saikia Das, gynecologist at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, said, "Rural women encourage breastfeeding more than women living in urban areas. However, due to lack of proper knowledge regarding techniques of breastfeeding, they cannot feed their babies properly. Most of the women living in cities are engaged in some kind of profession where they get a maternity leave for only a certain period. They have to join office after that period. Hence, they feed their babies with commercial baby food products."
Though a Supreme Court ruling says a woman should get six months maternity leave but the government provides leave for only 135 days, Das noted.
Source: http://tinyurl.com/ne9sts5
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