The proportion of babies being exclusively breastfed for the first six months in India has witnessed a significant decline, dropping from 64% in 2019-21 to approximately 56% in 2023-24, according to the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6). This reversal of the rising trend observed over the past decade has alarmed public health and nutrition experts. They emphasize that exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months is the most cost-effective nutrition intervention, offering lifelong benefits for both mothers and infants.
State-Wise Variations in Exclusive Breastfeeding
The reduction in exclusive breastfeeding rates is widespread across almost all states, with only a few exceptions such as Kerala, Gujarat, and West Bengal. States with high birth rates have experienced sharp declines. For instance, Uttar Pradesh saw a drop from nearly 60% in 2019-21 to just 35% in 2023-24. Similarly, Madhya Pradesh fell from 74% to 56%, Rajasthan from over 70% to 54%, and Assam from 64% to 54%. Haryana recorded the steepest decline, from almost 70% to 41%, while Uttarakhand fell from about 53% to 41%.
Early Breastfeeding Within First Hour Shows Improvement
In contrast, the proportion of babies under three years who were breastfed within the first hour of birth has increased significantly, from about 42% in 2015-16 (NFHS-4) and 2019-21 (NFHS-5) to 50% in the latest survey. Most states have shown marked improvement, though some like Punjab and West Bengal recorded a decline. States that previously had low rates of early breastfeeding, such as Jharkhand, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh, have seen substantial jumps. Jharkhand rose from 22% in 2019-21 to 46.8%, Bihar from 31% to 52%, and Chhattisgarh from 32% to nearly 52%.
Top Performers in Breastfeeding Indicators
Kerala leads in early breastfeeding, with over 82% of babies breastfed within the first hour, followed by Andhra Pradesh at 67%. Kerala also ranks among the highest in exclusive breastfeeding for six months, close to 73%, second only to Chhattisgarh at 76%. These states serve as positive examples, highlighting the potential for improvement in others.
Public health experts urge renewed focus on promoting and supporting exclusive breastfeeding, as the decline poses risks to child health and development. The data underscores the need for targeted interventions in states with the sharpest drops, while learning from successful states to reverse the trend.
