Millions of women and families worldwide have joined lactating mothers to mark this year’s World Breastfeeding Month which kicked off on August 1 under the theme “Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all”.

Breastfeeding has been touted as a critical part of motherhood as it creates the first strong bond between mother and baby, which grows stronger into their adulthood.

However, the Ministry of Health (MoH) has now raised alarm over a concerning trend that is causing a significant decrease in breastfeeding rates among young mothers.

According to recent MoH records, there has been a 10 per cent rise in bottle-feeding, with three out of every ten infants now being bottle-fed in their first 24 months.

This shift away from breast milk, which is nature's perfect food for babies, has Health officials tangled over the long-term implications for child health and development.

"Despite efforts, Kenya did not record significant changes in breastfeeding rates as early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding rates slightly declined to 60 per cent, from 62 per cent and 61 per cent respectively.

"Moreover, bottle-feeding increased from 22 to 34 per cent,” the Ministry said in its World Breastfeeding Week statement.

Wairimu*, 19, lost her newborn after just two weeks, a devastating outcome she attributes partly to her lack of knowledge about proper infant feeding.

"I actually feared sagging breasts since I'm young. That's why I was skeptical about breastfeeding," Wairimu said.

When her baby cried, she resorted to feeding it cow's milk out of desperation, unaware of the potential harm.

"I didn't have milk to give the child while at the hospital," Wairimu explained. "When I came home, the child continued crying, and I opted for cow milk, hoping the child would keep quiet."

Her story highlights a critical gap in support through awareness for young mothers, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. 

Nerea Ojanga, a midwife with extensive experience in maternal and infant health, emphasises the vital importance of breastfeeding.

"Mother's milk is the only milk the baby can be able to digest properly," she explains.

"The first milk the mother produces is the first immunsation the baby gets. It's loaded with immunity that protects babies from pneumonia, ear infections, diarrhoea, and even some heart conditions and cancers."

Ojanga says the trend towards bottle-feeding is particularly pronounced among middle-class urban women.

"These women often lack the community support system that traditionally encouraged and sustained breastfeeding," she explains.

"They may be working mothers with limited maternity leave, or they may be influenced by aggressive marketing of breast milk substitutes." 

The World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), have long championed exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.

This should then be followed by continued breastfeeding with appropriate complementary foods for up to two years or beyond.  

Research shows that breastfed children perform better on intelligence tests, are less likely to be overweight or obese, and are less prone to diabetes later in life.

A landmark study published in The Lancet 2016 estimated that universal breastfeeding could prevent 823,000 child deaths and 20,000 breast cancer deaths every year globally.

In economic terms, the study found that increasing breastfeeding rates could add US$300 billion to the global economy annually.

Despite these clear benefits, many young Kenyan mothers like Wairimu are choosing bottle-feeding, often due to misconceptions, lack of support, or societal pressures.

The Ministry of Health's report indicates that while breastfeeding rates have remained relatively constant, the rise in bottle-feeding represents a significant shift in infant feeding practices.

Dr Christine Wanjiru Njagi, a paediatrician at Kenyatta National Hospital, points out that convenience often plays a role in the decision to bottle-feed.

"Short maternity leave makes mothers come up with alternative solutions for their babies, for example, expressing milk and storing it so that they can sustain the six months of exclusive breastfeeding,” she says.

However, the paediatrician emphasises that breast milk remains the gold standard for infant nutrition.

"Breastfeeding is always the best option since it's feasible, safe, cheap, and enhances bonding between mum and baby," she adds.

The Ministry of Health has identified the violation of codes regulating the marketing of breast milk substitutes as a significant factor compounding the situation.

According to MoH, aggressive marketing of breastmilk substitutes hampers breastfeeding practices.

"The 2023 Lancet Series estimates that Commercial Milk Formula (CMF) generates profits of up to 55.6 billion U.S. Dollars annually, with inadequate maternity protection being identified as a factor  perpetuating the growth of these industries,” said the Ministry.

Unicef data paints a grim picture of breastfeeding globally. Worldwide, only 44 per cent of infants are exclusively breastfed in the first six months of life.

In Kenya, while the rate is higher at around 61 per cent, the recent trend towards bottle-feeding threatens to reverse this trend. The consequences of this shift could be severe. Science has also confirmed that the sagging of breasts is not primarily caused by breastfeeding. Any menopausal woman is bound to contend with saggy breasts.

MoH recognises that addressing this issue requires a multi-faceted approach.

However, inadequate support for breastfeeding mothers in workplaces, aggressive marketing of breast milk substitutes, and limited awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding all contribute to the problem.

Moreover, specific groups such as teenage mothers, breastfeeding mothers in prisons and institutions, women affected by emergencies, and breastfeeding mothers with disabilities face additional barriers that require targeted interventions.

According to Unicef’s latest data, improving breastfeeding rates could save over 820,000 children’s lives each year.