idfwds2015.com Nizo Dairy Conference 29 September – 1 October 2015 Papendal, The Netherlands Internet: www.nizodairyconference.com Full-size table check details Table options View in workspace Download as CSV “
“Over the years, the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have recognized breastfeeding

as the most cost-effective, health-promoting, and disease-preventing strategy across the globe [1] and [2]. Given the overwhelming evidence of the importance of breastfeeding in reducing child mortality and morbidity, especially in developing countries, breastfeeding remains at the core of achieving millennium development goals 4 and 5 [3]. Unfortunately though, 1.4 million child deaths and a further 44 million disability-adjusted life years experienced in low-income and middle-income countries are attributable to suboptimal breastfeeding [4]. The benefits of breastfeeding to the health and development of the child as well as the

mother have been well documented [5], [6], [7], [8] and [9]. Research reviews have highlighted various physical, motor, cognitive, and psychosocial advantages that breast milk offers to the child [7] and [9]. Breast milk boosts a child’s immune system through protection from infection, it is a protective factor against obesity and other adult diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, and it saves money that might be used in buying breast milk substitutes. High child malnutrition rates and poor living environments characterized by unhygienic conditions and contaminated drinking water are common in developing B-Raf inhibition countries. These conditions increase the risk of child infection, thus exacerbating the negative effects of not breastfeeding [3], [7] and [10]. Breastfeeding enhances the bond between the child and mother, a prerequisite for normal child development. Furthermore, breastfeeding mothers enjoy benefits such as reduced postpartum bleeding, early

uterine involution, delayed resumption of the menstrual cycle (and hence birth spacing), reduced risks of breast and endometrial cancer, and lessened risk of bone remineralization (which in turn reduces the risk of hip fractures in older age). The global strategy for infant and young children feeding provides the roadmap toward achieving optimal child feeding practices IMP dehydrogenase [2]. The Kenyan government has adopted this strategy, and breastfeeding is among 11 prioritized high-impact nutrition interventions for child survival and development [11]. Among other guidelines, it is recommended that the newborn has skin-to-skin contact with the mother and start breastfeeding within 1 hour after birth [12]. This practice helps in bonding the dyad, stimulates production of colostrum milk that has high immunological benefit to the child, and also aids contraction of the mother’s womb for faster expulsion of the placenta and reduced risk of heavy bleeding.