Breastfeeding pumps cash into the economy
The Lancet Breastfeeding Series says that the costs of low cognitive abilities amount to US$300 billion each year—an amount of money that can be saved if countries support breastfeeding.
The Series reviewed 1,300 studies to measure the effect of breastfeeding in the world economy. Health departments and families will also save a lot by reducing risks of breast cancer and infections in children.
- Breastfeeding will also prevent the deaths of 820,000 infant deaths per year—87% of which are under six months of age.
- Nearly half of all diarrhea episodes and one-third of all respiratory infections would be prevented with breastfeeding.
- For each of the first two years a mother breastfeeds over her lifetime, she decreases her risk of developing invasive breast cancer by six percent. She also benefits from reduced ovarian cancer risk.
- Approximately 20,000 breast cancer deaths are prevented each year by breastfeeding; improved rates could prevent another 20,000 deaths each year.
- Breastfeeding is one of the few positive health-related behaviors that is more common in poor rather than rich countries, and in poor countries, is a more frequently used behavior among poor mothers. In the absence of breastfeeding, the poor-rich gap in child survival would be even greater.
“Supporting breastfeeding makes economic sense for rich and poor countries and this latest breastfeeding study proves it,” said Series co-lead, Dr. Cesar Victora, emeritus professor from the International Center for Equity in Health, Post-Graduate Programme in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas in Brazil.
“Breastfeeding is a powerful and unique intervention that benefits mothers and children, yet breastfeeding rates are not improving as we would like them to–and in some countries, are declining. We hope the scientific evidence amassed in this Series will help revert these negative trends and create a healthier society for everyone–mother, child, poor and rich.” Victora said.
Category: Features, Wellness and Complementary Therapies