Importance of Breastfeeding

Although some individuals in this generation have stopped breastfeeding their children, breastmilk is essential for the infant's health. Victora at el. (2016) elaborate these benefits in their article. Children who are breastfed have fewer dental malocclusions, lower infectious mortality and morbidity, alongside higher intelligence. Further research demonstrates that breastfeeding is essential to women. Subsequently, it improves birth spacing and can prevent breast cancer. Additionally, it reduces the risk of a woman getting ovarian cancer and diabetes (Victora et al., 2016). The authors explained that individuals in high-income countries breastfeed for a shorter period compared to those in a low-income country. The article notes further that by scaling breastfeeding, approximately 823,000 children deaths, and estimation of 20,000 breast cancer deaths can be prevented annually (Victora et al., 2016). Arguably, findings suggest that breastmilk is characterized as personalized medicine for infants. In conclusion, the article indicates that breastfeeding promotion is essential across all economic classes. Correspondingly, more lives both for children and women will be saved. Also, the children will also be healthier and more immune to diseases and bacteria. 

Significance 

Breastmilk has several benefits to the infants, including boosting their health. According to Busch, Nassar and Silbert (2015), adequately breastfed babies experience a lower risk of ear infection which is reduced by 50%, obesity by 24%, Leukemia by 15-20%, and asthma by 30-40%. Furthermore, a study shows that a relatively high number of children die of pneumonia and diarrhea (Horta & Victora, 2013). However, the number can be reduced through sufficient breastfeeding. Besides, sudden infant death syndrome risk can also be reduced through breastfeeding (America Academy of Pediatrics, 2017). It is vital to breastfeed a child as it improves their resilience to diseases. Therefore, mothers are capable of increasing their child’s survival rate from some diseases through breastfeeding them adequately. As a result, the mortality rate will be significantly reduced. Additionally, cognitive development is also enhanced through breastfeeding (Lee et al., 2016). The implication is that their thinking process becomes well-constructed, and at a faster rate. For this reason, the child becomes intelligent and attains a high capability of problem-solving, decision making and remembering. Due to these advantages, breastfeeding should be encouraged and supported because of its notable significance to the infants. 

References 

American Academy of Pediatrics (2017). American Academy of Pediatrics Recommends That Pediatric Practices Improve Breastfeeding Support. Retrieved from https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/American-Academy-of-Pediatrics-Recommends-that-Pediatric-Practices-Improve-Breastfeeding-Support.aspx 

Busch, D., Nassar, L., & Silbert, J. (2015). The Necessity of Breastfeeding – Promoting Breastfeeding in the Primary Care Setting; A Community Pilot Project Applying the Tri-Core Breastfeeding Model: Beyond the Basics. Retrieved from https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/the-necessity-of-breastfeeding--promoting-breastfeeding-in-the-primary-care-setting-a-community-pilot-project-applying-the-tricorebreastfeeding-model-beyond-the-basics-2376-127X-1000158.php?aid=51928 

Horta, B, L., Victora, C, G. (2013). Short-term effects of breastfeeding: a systematic review of the benefits of breastfeeding on diarrhea and pneumonia mortality. Retrieved from https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/95585 

Lee, H., Park, H., Ha, E., Hong, Y.C., Ha, M., Park, H., Kim, N.B., …Kim, Y. (2016). Effect of Breastfeeding Duration on Cognitive Development in Infants: 3- Year Follow-up Study. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4810341/ 

Victora, G, C., Bahl, R., Barros, D, J, A., Franca, A, V, G., Horton, S., Krasevec, J., …Rollins, C, N. (2016). Breastfeeding in the 21 st Century: Epidemiology Mechanisms, and Lifelong Effect. Retrieved from http://www.ilcambiamento.it/files/allattamento1.pdf