Dear all:

I thought I would share with you some of what I sent to the CORE listserve that is for 
nongovernmental organizations that do child survival interventions in developing areas of the 
world.

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It is easy to think that breastfeeding is something that just naturally occurs among populations, 
especially in developing areas of the world.  Nevertheless, as globalization is leading to more 
women entering into formalized work environments, emergency situations  lead to displacements 
and disruptions in cultural supports, and HIV is presenting challenges in terms of interventions for 
infant and young child feeding that increase HIV-free survival rates, we need to keep in mind that 
breastfeeding is an important intervention to include in all child survival interventions.

Reviewing some of the statistics from the 2006 UNICEF's State of the World's Children:

The ratio of secondary school attendance of females to males is:
100% worldwide (excluding China)
87% in least developing countries
80% in the worst off area of Western and Central Africa

The coverage of the 3rd dose of DPT is:
78% worldwide
75% in the least developed countries
52% in the worst off area of Western and Central Africa

The coverage of vitamin A supplementation s is:
61% worldwide (excluding China)
76% in the least developed countries
58% in the worst off area of South Asia

The percentage of the population using adequate sanitation facilities is:
58% worldwide
35% in the least developed countries 
35% in the worst off areas of Western and Central Africa and South Asia

On the other hand, the percent of infants who are exclusively breastfed to 6 months of age is only:
36% worldwide
34% in the least developed countries
20% in the worst of area of Western and Central Africa

Apart from the Lactopia of Norway which has had the world's most unbroken chain and best track 
record in preserving breastfeeding, we have a long way to go in our efforts to provide and protect:

1) A female infant's most important chance for an equal start in life
2) An infant's first, most continuous, and most enduring immunization
3) An infant's most important source of micronutrients
4) An infant's most important source of protection from lack of adequate sanitary facilities

Best regards, 

Susan E. Burger, MHS, PhD, IBCLC

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