Discuss the benefits of breastfeeding in developing countries as compared to formula feeding

Answer 1

Replacing breast milk with infant formula in environments and economic circumstances that make it impossible to feed formula safely may lead to infant under nutrition. Breast milk, the recommended food for infants, is sterile and contains antibodies that enhance an infant's resistance to disease. In the absence of sterilization and refrigeration, formula in bottles is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. In countries where poor sanitation is prevalent, breastfeeding should take priority over feeding formula. Studies indicate that a bottle-fed infant living in poverty is up to 14 times as likely to die from diarrhea-related causes and 4 times more likely to die of pneumonia than an exclusively breastfed baby. The promotion of breastfeeding among mothers in developing countries has many benefits. Breast milk is hygienic, readily available, and nutritionally sound, and it provides infants with immunologic protection specific to their environment. In the developing world, its advantages over formula feeding can mean the difference between life and death.