Mapping inequalities in exclusive breastfeeding in low- and middle-income countries, 2000–2018
- Local Burden of Disease Exclusive Breastfeeding Collaborators,
- Natalia V. Bhattacharjee(Author),
- Lauren E. Schaeffer(Author),
- Simon I. Hay(Author),
- Dan Lu(Author),
- Megan F. Schipp(Author)
- University of Washington,
- Brigham and Women's Hospital,
- Medical Teams International,
- Adigrat University,
- Cairo University,
- Arba Minch University
Open access
Publication Information
Output type
Original language
EnglishPages from-to (Number of pages)
Pages 1027-1045 (19 pages)Journal (Volume, Issue Number)
Nature Human Behaviour (Volume 5, Issue 8)Publication milestones
- Published - 08/2021
Publication status
Publication IDs
- Scopus: 85107815293
- PubMed: 34083753
Abstract
Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF)—giving infants only breast-milk for the first 6 months of life—is a component of optimal breastfeeding practices effective in preventing child morbidity and mortality. EBF practices are known to vary by population and comparable subnational estimates of prevalence and progress across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are required for planning policy and interventions. Here we present a geospatial analysis of EBF prevalence estimates from 2000 to 2018 across 94 LMICs mapped to policy-relevant administrative units (for example, districts), quantify subnational inequalities and their changes over time, and estimate probabilities of meeting the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target (WHO GNT) of ≥70% EBF prevalence by 2030. While six LMICs are projected to meet the WHO GNT of ≥70% EBF prevalence at a national scale, only three are predicted to meet the target in all their district-level units by 2030.