A comparison of NFHS-3 and NFHS-4 data shows that the percentage of children below 6 months exclusively breastfed has risen from 21.6 per cent to 58 per cent
Breastfeeding practices seem to be taking a positive turn in Madhya Pradesh, as the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4, 2016) data suggests. The two key factors that have shown significant improvement are breastfeeding the newborns in the very first hour of their birth, and exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months.
Over the last decade, the rate of breastfeeding among children below three years within one hour of birth has shot from 15 per cent (NFHS-3, 2006) to close to 35 per cent (NFHS-4, 2016), which is an indicator of improved awareness among young mothers about the benefits of breastfeeding the newborns as soon as they are born.
Similarly, a comparison of NFHS-3 and NFHS-4 data shows that the percentage of children below 6 months exclusively breastfed has risen from 21.6 per cent to 58 per cent, paving the way for the comeback of breastfeeding practices in a state that is fraught with low health indicators.
However, the state falls short in terms of introducing supplementary diet for infants, and data suggests that the percentage of children between 6 to 8 months receiving solid or semi-solid food along with breast milk has dropped from 46 per cent to 38 per cent. The supplementary diet is a vital part of child nutrition along with breastfeeding, and the falling of rates calls for better awareness and implementation of best practices among communities regarding a healthy diet for infants.
Further analysis of the NFHS-4 data shows that only 7 per cent of breastfeeding children within the age-group of 6-23 months and 5 per cent of non-breastfeeding children within the same age-group receive adequate diet, indicating the poor status of the state when it comes to addressing the significance of complementary diet along with breastfeeding for its young citizens.
Also, going by other child health indicators, there are a few ambiguities that seem to crop up. “Institutional birth rate in the state has touched 80 per cent (NFHS-4), which creates a good opportunity for the institutions to boost awareness regarding colostrum feeding for the child and elevate the existing 35 per cent to a much better figure,” said Soha Moitra, the Regional Director, CRY (North).
“The fact that mother’s milk is of utmost importance to the growth and development of the child makes it a mandatory diet for the baby during her first six months. However, this information is not surely as widespread a piece of information as it should be,” she added.
Several studies on child health and nutrition suggest that the newborn must have colostrums, the first milk of the mother within the first hour of birth, and it is the very first dose of nutrients and immunity-boosters that the newborn can receive. After 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding, the infant should be introduced to supplementary foods, and it should go hand in hand with breastfeeding.
On-ground experiences from CRY intervention areas in the state—from the districts of Rewa, Shahdol, Mandla and Damoh—also indicate that intensive advocacy through ICDS (Integrated Child Development Scheme) and health departments have, to an extent, started taking a positive bend in altering mindsets, but there are still a lot left to be done. As revealed by NFHS-4 data, only 11.4 per cent of pregnant women availing full ante-natal care, less than 18 per cent of the newborns receiving a proper health check from a doctor or nurse or other affiliated health personnel within 2 days of birth and only 54 per cent infants within the age-group of 12-23 months fully immunized (BCG, measles, and 3 doses each of polio and DPT) clearly show that, even though certain indicators are looking up, ensuring overall health and nutrition security for children is still a far cry in the state.
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