page_title: Breastfeeding promotion
section_title: India
hierarchical_section_title: Breastfeeding promotion / Breastfeeding promotion projects by region / Asia / India
caption_attribution_description: English: Early Initiation of breastfeeding in Asia. Source: 2018 Global Breastfeeding Scorecard https://www.indiaspend.com/6-in-10-indian-babies-miss-out-on-early-breastfeeding-and-its-life-saving-benefits-62614/
context_page_description: Breastfeeding promotion refers to coordinated activities and policies to promote health among women, newborns and infants through breastfeeding.
  The World Health Organization recommends infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life to achieve optimal health and development, followed by complementary foods while continuing breastfeeding for up to two years or beyond. However, currently fewer than 40% of infants under six months of age are exclusively breastfed worldwide.
  Public health awareness events such as World Breastfeeding Week, as well as training of health professionals and planning, aim to increase this number.
context_section_description: The Government of India initiated the nation-wide breastfeeding programme: MAA- Mother’s Absolute Affection, in August 2016. Initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour of birth and exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months are the two main goals of the MAA programme.
caption: Early Initiation of Breastfeeding in some of the Asian countries. Source: 2018 Global Breastfeeding Scorecard
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