A survey conducted by the Ghana Statistical Service found that almost half of children aged 0 to 5 months in Ghana were not exclusively breastfed
Data from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) released by the GSS in commemoration of World Breastfeeding Week also revealed that the rate of exclusive breastfeeding among infants under 6 months has seen only a modest increase of 0.8 percentage points over the past two decades.
In 2003, 46.6% of infants in this age group were not exclusively breastfed, and by 2022, this figure had only marginally improved to 47.4%. This stagnation suggests that efforts to promote exclusive breastfeeding have not yet achieved significant progress.
The survey also highlights another critical issue, the delay in initiating breastfeeding. According to the data, two out of every five (41.8%) children born in the two years preceding the 2022 GDHS did not begin breastfeeding within the first hour of life. This delay can impact the health and development of newborns, as early initiation of breastfeeding is crucial for providing essential nutrients and establishing a strong maternal-infant bond.
Regional disparities further complicate the breastfeeding landscape in Ghana. In three regions, more than half of the children did not start breastfeeding within the recommended first hour after birth. These regions are Greater Accra with 56.2%, Ahafo with 56.1%, and Eastern with 51.7%. Conversely, Bono East had the lowest percentage of children who did not initiate breastfeeding within the first hour, at 29.4%, followed closely by Volta at 31.6%.
The theme for the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week is “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All.”
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