Is the Poverty Gap a Barrier to Early Initiation of Breastfeeding in Rural Niger

Abstract

There is strong evidence about the benefits of early, exclusive and continued breastfeeding to mitigate maternal and child mortality risk and illnesses [1–4]. Breastfeeding has been globally recognized as a measurement indicator for the health outcome of populations [5]. However, a secondary analysis of the Niger 2012 demographic health survey showed that exclusivity of postpartum breastfeeding was compromised too early by prelacteal feeding: half of the interviewed women (50.3%) reported having given their child other liquids than breast milk in the first 3 days of birth [6]. The 67th World Health Assembly adopted a resolution on sustainable actions across sectors to improve health equity [7]. Community based interventions led by a non-health sector were recognized to improve neonatal health of the poorest [8]. Studies showed that early initiation of breastfeeding, a critical protective factor for neonatal survival, is impaired by socioeconomic vulnerability of mothers [9–11]. A recently published article by the author clearly revealed the importance of identifying risk factors hindering early initiation of breastfeeding for which the scientific evidence remains scarce in Sub-Saharan Africa [12].