The level of exclusive breastfeeding in Nigeria is only 17 per cent, meaning that at least 5.4 million children each year miss out on its benefits, contributing to the country’s problem of chronic child malnutrition; 11 million children under five are malnourished in Nigeria.
The low rate of exclusive breastfeeding leads to more than 100,000 child deaths and translates into almost $12 billion in future economic losses for the country.
When the cost of low cognitive development and low IQ, as well as health costs are added in, inadequate breastfeeding is estimated to cost the Nigerian economy US$21 billion per year, or 4.1 percent of its gross national income.
About 74% of children who are not exclusively breastfed are from families in the lowest income group in Nigeria.
Culled from UNICEF Nigeria.
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