BTN News: As we begin World Breastfeeding Week, new information about early childhood nutrition in Argentina shows some concerning trends. According to a report by UNICEF Argentina and the Centro de Estudio sobre Nutrición Infantil (Cesni), only 53% of children aged six months to two years receive a diet that meets the minimum standards for frequency and variety. This is a crucial time when solid foods are added to a baby’s diet. For babies under six months, exclusive breastfeeding is still low, with only 48% of them receiving breast milk as their only source of nutrition. The early use of infant formulas is becoming more common, starting as early as 2.6 months on average, instead of the recommended six months.
The report looks at breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices in children under two years old. It shows that while 95% of children are breastfed at some point, 68.5% also receive infant formula. This is mostly due to medical advice. Less than half of infants aged zero to five months are exclusively breastfed, with the average age of stopping being 7.8 months. One major reason for this is that mothers often return to work.
The findings are based on a survey of 1,002 parents from different socio-economic backgrounds and regions in Argentina. This survey gives a clear picture of how children aged zero to 24 months are fed. It highlights the need for better public health policies during the first 1,000 days of life.
Verónica Risso Patrón, UNICEF’s Health and Nutrition officer, emphasized the importance of these findings for creating public policies. She said that while most infants start with breastfeeding, problems arise when they switch to complementary feeding. Only 47.6% of infants are exclusively breastfed until six months. This is a crucial period for ensuring the best health outcomes, especially given Argentina’s current economic and social challenges.
Economic hardships have a significant impact, with seven out of ten children living in poverty or extreme poverty. Risso Patrón stressed the need to address the lack of information about complementary feeding practices. The new indicators from WHO and UNICEF used in the study show that Argentina needs to improve its nutritional practices for young children.
The report found that 48% of infants receive only breast milk in the first six months, while 26% receive both breast milk and other milk or formula. Exclusive breastfeeding protects against various infections and conditions like diarrhea, lower respiratory infections, acute ear infections, and childhood obesity. Introducing other foods and liquids during this period can triple the risk of illness or death compared to exclusive breastfeeding.
For a small number of newborns, exclusive breastfeeding might not be possible due to health issues, interventions, or genetic conditions. In the UNICEF and Cesni study, 5.1% of children needed special formulas due to allergies or illnesses.
Despite this, the data show that 68.5% of children use formula at some stage, with 52.4% of infants aged zero to five months receiving it. Formula is usually introduced around 2.9 months and is more common among older parents or those with lower incomes. Medical advice is the main reason for formula use, cited by 49% of parents, followed by concerns about hunger (35%), convenience (11%), personal choice (10%), and the mother’s work commitments (7.7%).
By six to eight months, 86% of infants eat solid, semi-solid, or soft foods, as recommended to complement breastfeeding. By their second birthday, 65% continue to be breastfed. Continuing breastfeeding can prevent half of the deaths from infectious diseases in children aged six to 23 months. It is also linked to higher intelligence scores that last into adolescence.
However, only 53% of children have a minimally acceptable diet. This diet should include enough feeding frequency and variety to meet their nutrient needs. About 68% consume at least five of the eight recommended food groups: breast milk, cereals/tubers/roots, legumes/seeds/nuts, dairy products, meats/organ meats, eggs, vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables, and other fruits/vegetables. The rest do not reach this dietary diversity.
Feeding frequency also varies. About 75.3% of children receive an acceptable minimum. For breastfed infants, this means two to three complementary feedings daily between six and eight months or three to four meals plus one or two nutritious snacks daily between nine and 23 months. For non-breastfed children, WHO recommends four to five meals per day. This guideline is less frequently met in lower-income households.
The report also highlights troubling trends related to childhood obesity and overweight. About 54% of children under two eat “unhealthy” foods, such as cookies, pastries, snack products, condiments, processed meats, and canned meats. Additionally, 16% do not eat fruits or vegetables regularly, and 56% regularly drink sweetened beverages like flavored milk, sugary milk, sodas, or juices.
As the World Breastfeeding Week begins, the findings on early childhood nutrition in Argentina are alarming. MarÃa Alejandra Buiarevich, a member of the Lactation Commission of the Argentine Society of Pediatrics (SAP), emphasized the importance of diverse diets. She highlighted the need to include fruits and vegetables to fight the country’s obesity epidemic. She urged families to replace unhealthy foods with more nutritious options and to ensure proper hydration with water.
Professional support is crucial for maintaining exclusive breastfeeding for six months. Andrea Graciano, coordinator of the Free Chair of Food Sovereignty at the School of Nutrition of the University of Buenos Aires (CaLiSA Nutrition UBA), stressed the need for shared responsibility in successful breastfeeding. This involves family, friends, and health professionals. She also highlighted the conflict of interest many health professionals have with formula companies. She called for stricter regulations to prevent marketing practices that undermine breastfeeding.
UNICEF and Cesni recommend increased local awareness of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. This code prohibits the promotion of infant formulas. This measure is crucial for supporting breastfeeding and improving early childhood nutrition in Argentina.
In conclusion, the findings highlight the urgent need for comprehensive public health strategies. These strategies should support breastfeeding and ensure adequate complementary feeding. Addressing these issues is vital for improving the health and development of Argentina’s youngest population, especially in the context of economic challenges and high poverty rates.
