Analysing barriers for breastfeeding

One of the indicators to monitor progress in improved health of women, newborns, children and adolescents is " Exclusive breastfeeding for six months". This was supported at the Sixty-sixth World Health Assembly held in Geneva.

Progress has been made in countries of the WHO European Region in promoting and supporting exclusive breastfeeding for babies aged 6 months, but the situation differs a lot among countries. The average proportion of children exclusively breastfed at 6 months of age in the European Region is among the lowest in the world.

Health 2020, the European policy framework supporting action across government and society for health and well-being, emphasizes the importance of investing in health through a life-course approach and giving people a healthy start in life. There is enough evidence to show that exclusive breastfeeding is the best for the optimal growth and development of a child, so analysis of the existing barriers and development of the action plans on overcoming them is the only way forward.