Baby’s “First Vaccine”: Breastfeeding Rates Soar

Kenyan authorities are deploying baby-friendly initiatives to significantly reduce rates of early childhood mortality, including breastfeeding, which is often considered a baby’s “first vaccine” given that it is packed with customized protection.

“Breastmilk is clean, safe, and uniquely formulated to meet a baby’s nutritional needs, explains Jedida Wamaitha, a Nairobi-based pediatric nurse. “Breastfeeding improves a child’s response to routine immunization. Combined, these are the two most cost-effective ways to lower infant and child mortality. It’s vital not to neglect one or the other.”

The proportion of babies fed exclusively on breastmilk went from 3% in 1998 to 60% in 2022. The first breastmilk – colostrum – is nutrient-dense and has antibodies to protect newborns. This trend helped reduce rates of early childhood mortality. Coincidently, under-five mortality decreased from 115 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2003 to 41 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022. The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative provides a roadmap to successful breastfeeding, including skin-to-skin contact between mother and baby immediately after birth, initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of life, and breastfeeding as often as the baby needs, day and night. The Baby-Friendly Community Initiative focuses on interventions at the community level to discourage misinformation and disinformation regarding breastfeeding and dispel cultural practices that interfere with breastfeeding.