BREASTFEEDING WEEK
August 1-7
World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is celebrated every August 1st to 7th   in commemoration of the 1990 Innocenti Declaration to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.
It was produced and adopted by participants at the WHO/UNICEF policymakers’ meeting on “Breastfeeding. WBW is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) like SDG 2 , SDG3 and SDG4.
Breastfeeding education in the school setting offers the opportunity to address misconceptions, and positively influence beliefs and attitudes for students Breastfeeding is important for both the mother and the child. A child should at least breastfeed exclusively for six months because breast milk is the best source of nutrition to an infant.
Breastfed babies have a lower risk of asthma, obesity, type 1diabetes, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Breastfed babies are also less likely to have ear infections and stomach bugs.
From a wide range of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. Education is a key component to help increase knowledge, skills, and positive attitudes regarding breastfeeding, emphasizing appropriate support of the mother from her family, health care providers, and community.
Teachers, parents and guardians have a responsibility to be on the frontline in advocating for increased breastfeeding support in our society for the youth. Providing school-aged children with information about breastfeeding would enable them to make informed choices about infant feeding when they become parents.
Challenges of breastfeeding to teenage parents
Maternal age is strongly associated with suboptimal breastfeeding practices. Many young parents have encountered difficulties in breastfeeding experiences such as lack of skills, inadequate support, embarrassment and the balance between parenting, house work and school. Studies show that they tend to exhibit more emotional distress, low self-esteem and less adequate coping skills. Teenage mothers require adequate support.
