UN Reports Rising Breastfeeding Rates but Warns Mothers Still Lack Adequate Support

Breastfeeding rates are climbing around the world, yet millions of mothers and families continue to lack the services, workplace protections and information they need to feed their babies safely, the United Nations has warned, according to AllAfrica reporting on UN News. The gap, the UN said, leaves many infants exposed to avoidable health risks despite steady progress in global breastfeeding practices.

Standing guidance on infant feeding

The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child’s life, followed by continued breastfeeding alongside complementary foods for up to two years and beyond. The guidance, jointly promoted by WHO and the United Nations Children’s Fund, is rooted in evidence that breast milk provides essential early nutrition, supports infant immune systems and helps protect against common childhood illnesses. Breastfeeding is also associated with longer-term health benefits for mothers, including a reduced risk of certain cancers and cardiovascular conditions.

Where the gaps remain

Despite rising global rates, UN agencies have repeatedly pointed to structural barriers that prevent mothers from following the recommendations. These include limited access to skilled lactation counselling, weak enforcement of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, and a shortage of paid maternity leave and workplace breastfeeding facilities. In many low- and middle-income countries, the gap is particularly pronounced in rural and informal sectors, where women often return to work within weeks of giving birth without access to private spaces or break time to express milk.

A recurring call to action

The warning comes during World Breastfeeding Week, an annual campaign observed in early August by governments, UN agencies and civil society groups to raise awareness of the role breastfeeding plays in infant nutrition and public health. UN officials have used the occasion in previous years to press for stronger family-friendly workplace policies, greater investment in maternal health services, and tighter curbs on the marketing of infant formula. The agencies have urged governments to treat breastfeeding support as a public health priority, arguing that improvements in this area yield benefits well beyond individual families, contributing to stronger health systems, more equitable workforces and lower long-term healthcare costs.

Sources

This report was written from coverage published by the following news organisations. Follow the links for the original reporting.

• AllAfrica — Africa: Mothers Still Lack Support to Breastfeed, UN Warns