A survey by the Ghana Statistical Service found that nearly half of children aged 0 to 5 months in Ghana are not exclusively breastfed.
The 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS), released in honor of World Breastfeeding Week, revealed that the rate of exclusive breastfeeding among infants under 6 months has only modestly increased by 0.8 percentage points over the past 20 years.
In 2003, 46.6% of infants in this age group were not exclusively breastfed, and by 2022, this figure had slightly improved to 47.4%.
This minimal progress indicates that efforts to promote exclusive breastfeeding have not been highly effective.
The survey also highlights a concerning issue: delays in initiating breastfeeding.
The data shows that 41.8% of children born in the two years prior to the 2022 GDHS did not begin breastfeeding within the first hour of life.
This delay can affect newborn health and development, as early breastfeeding is crucial for providing essential nutrients and strengthening the maternal-infant bond.
Regional disparities add to the complexity of breastfeeding practices in Ghana.
In Greater Accra (56.2%), Ahafo (56.1%), and Eastern (51.7%), more than half of children did not start breastfeeding within the recommended first hour.
Conversely, Bono East had the lowest percentage of children not initiating breastfeeding within the first hour at 29.4%, followed by Volta at 31.6%.
The theme for the 2024 World Breastfeeding Week is “Closing the Gap: Breastfeeding Support for All.”
