Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates in India Decline Despite Growth in Institutional Births

Despite significant progress in medical infrastructure, where institutional delivery rates have climbed to 90.6 per cent, India is witnessing a concerning decline in exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates for infants under six months. Data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-6 indicates that EBF rates have fallen to 55.8 per cent, a notable drop from the 63.7 per cent recorded in the NFHS-5 cycle. This trend highlights a disconnect between the availability of medical facilities and the post-delivery support systems necessary for infant nutrition.

Healthcare experts attribute this downturn to several interrelated factors, including intense professional pressures on working mothers and the proliferation of nutritional misinformation on social media. Many mothers encounter physical and emotional hurdles—such as painful latching, perceived inadequate milk supply, and the physical exhaustion associated with C-section recovery—that lead families to prematurely introduce formula or animal milk. Furthermore, caregivers often misinterpret normal infant behaviors, such as irregular sleep patterns or frequent crying, as signs of insufficient nutrition, inadvertently undermining the immunity-boosting benefits of colostrum and breast milk.

Medical professionals are now advocating for a more holistic approach to maternal care that goes beyond institutional birth. There is an urgent call for robust postnatal guidance, evidence-based clinical support, and enhanced lactation consultancy services. Policymakers are being urged to foster family-friendly workplace environments that accommodate nursing mothers, alongside public awareness campaigns that combat digital misinformation. By prioritizing family and institutional support, experts believe India can bridge the gap between practical lifestyle challenges and the critical health requirement of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.