Infant mortality is a major challenge faced by developing countries because of insufficient nutrition caused due to delayed and early cessation of breastfeeding. This article highlights the present-day challenges in early cessation of breastfeeding by young mothers and focuses on remedies for overcoming these challenges. In India, 40% of the newborn are not breastfed within one hour of delivery and only 25% of infants are breastfed for 6 months.
WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for infants up to 6 months and continue for 2 years with complementary nutrition for proper physical and mental growth. There are many social, economic and psychological reasons responsible for determining the duration of breastfeeding by mothers. To overcome the infant mortality, Government of India has released National Guidelines on Infant and Young Child Feeding in 2006, and implemented the Infant Milk…
