Challenges and Solutions in Promoting Exclusive Breastfeeding in Nigeria
Mrs. Adio Akinkugbe, a mother of two, found herself holding a small feeding bottle, preparing to feed her three-month-old son. She had chosen bottle feeding because she lacked the energy to breastfeed exclusively. Her husband, unable to cope with the baby’s nighttime cries, suggested using pap sweetened with sugar as an alternative. According to Mrs. Akinkugbe, only those who are well-nourished can breastfeed their babies without any supplements.
This situation is not unique. Many mothers in Nigeria, like Mrs. Akinkugbe, do not exclusively breastfeed their infants. A few days after giving birth, she experienced sore nipples, and her mother-in-law advised her to take an herbal concoction and water to help with the baby's colic. Despite these challenges, breast milk remains essential for providing infants with the necessary nutrients and hydration. However, according to the NDHS 2023-2024, only about 29% of Nigerian infants are exclusively breastfed, even in urban areas.
Muhammad Okorie, UNICEF’s social policy manager and officer-in-charge of the Lagos field office, highlighted that the declining rates of optimal breastfeeding practices in Nigeria are linked to a lack of supportive systems. These systems need to be in place at home, in healthcare settings, at workplaces, and within the community. He emphasized that breastfeeding is a community effort, as raising a child has always been a collective responsibility.
Mr. Okorie stressed that everyone, starting from the husband, must support the mother emotionally and practically. Husbands should encourage their wives to breastfeed exclusively and be ready to assist them in any way possible. The role of family members and healthcare workers is also crucial. Healthcare professionals can reassure mothers that they have made the best choice by breastfeeding their babies.
Breast milk provides more than just nutrition; it supplies sufficient water for the infant during the first six months of life. It also helps combat stunting, which can negatively impact a child’s cognitive development. However, achieving the full benefits of breast milk requires a collective effort to overcome misconceptions and myths that discourage women from breastfeeding exclusively.
Training, encouragement, and health talks at healthcare facilities play a vital role in providing both psychological and physical support for breastfeeding. This support should be extended to all women who give birth in such facilities. In addition, businesses and institutions should establish crèches or suitable breastfeeding spaces where mothers can take time off to breastfeed their children.
Mr. Okorie further advocated for fully compensated six-month maternity leave across all states in Nigeria. This would benefit both the child and the mother, ensuring a conducive work environment for breastfeeding mothers. There should be designated areas where mothers can bring their infants to work and breastfeed when necessary.
Professor Iyabo Runsewe-Abiodun, a consultant pediatrician at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital in Sagamu, emphasized that mothers who can successfully breastfeed need support. While over 99% of mothers in Nigeria breastfeed, very few provide only breast milk in the first six months of life. They require assistance from various sources, including the environment, hospitals, communities, households, and governmental and non-governmental organizations.
According to Professor Runsewe-Abiodun, one of the biggest barriers to exclusive breastfeeding is the lack of support from husbands. Husbands must understand that infants need breast milk and should relieve any stress or pain that could affect milk production. Stress or pain can hinder the release of prolactin, the hormone responsible for breast milk production.
She explained that once milk production is limited, the infant may become frustrated and stop breastfeeding. However, the greatest stimulus for milk production is the emptying of the breasts. Proper information and awareness are essential to make breastfeeding the norm. Work environments should be made more accommodating for breastfeeding mothers.
Healthcare workers are banned from accepting products from breastfeeding substitutes or advertising directly or indirectly from companies producing such substitutes. Professor Runsewe-Abiodun called for this ban to be extended to social media influencers to prevent them from influencing mothers to use alternatives.
To raise awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding, she urged the government to pass legislation requiring public and private institutions to have functional crèches. She also encouraged non-governmental organizations to collaborate with government agencies to support breastfeeding initiatives.