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Breastfeeding and child survival from 0 to 5 years in Côte d'Ivoire
1Department of Economics and Management, Félix Houphouët Boigny University, 01 BP V43 Abidjan 01, Abidjan-Cocody, Côte d'Ivoire. vyapo@hotmail.com.
Insights
Exclusive breastfeeding for six months significantly improves infant survival in Côte d'Ivoire. Maternal education, healthy environments, and informed formula choices also enhance child survival rates.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Demography
Background:
- Child survival and development are key health policy objectives.
- Research evaluates breastfeeding's impact on infant survival in Côte d'Ivoire.
- Socio-economic factors influencing child survival (0-5 years) are examined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of breastfeeding types on child survival (0-5 years).
- To identify and analyze key socio-economic determinants of child survival.
Main Methods:
- Probit estimation used to analyze breastfeeding's effect on survival.
- Data from 7776 children under 5 from Côte d'Ivoire DHS and MICS 2012 surveys.
- Analysis of socio-economic factors affecting child survival.
Main Results:
- Immediate exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months increases child survival probability.
- Maternal factors like education, healthy environment, and leading caregiving role improve survival.
- Informed choices regarding breast milk supplements and formula enhance survival chances.
Conclusions:
- Strengthen programs promoting exclusive breastfeeding via social campaigns.
- Enhance healthcare worker capacity to train mothers on exclusive breastfeeding.
- Educate on hygiene and appropriate complementary feeding post-six months.
Background:
One of the main objectives of health policy-makers is to promote children's growth, development, and survival. The current research evaluates the impact of breastfeeding on infant survival and highlights the major socio-economic determinants of child survival from 0 to 5 years old in Côte d'Ivoire.
Methods:
This study uses Probit estimation to evaluate the impact of the type of breastfeeding on the survival of children aged from 0 to 5 years old. The main socio-economic determinants of child survival were identified and analyzed. The sample of the study covers 7776 children under 5 years old drawn from the Côte d'Ivoire Demographic Health Surveys and the Multiple Indicators cluster survey of 2012.
Results:
A child is more likely to survive when immediate exclusive breastfeeding was practiced for up to 6 months. The probability of survival increases significantly when the mother lives in a healthy environment, when she has at least a primary school education, and when she plays a leading role in caring for the children. Likewise, when she better controls the market of some breast milk supplement and she chooses the best milk formula to complete feeding for her baby, the child's chances of survival increase significantly.
Conclusion:
Health policy-makers must strengthen programs to promote exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months through social campaigns. It should also strengthen the capacity of health workers (midwives, nurses, doctors, etc.) to better guide and provide training to mothers and young women about childbearing age to allow them to practice exclusive breastfeeding for up to 6 months. It is only after 6 months that they have to complete infant feeding by providing some semi-solid food rich in vitamins, proteins, and minerals. Taking into account the time constraint when they are engaged in economic activity, they must choose the best formula milk to supplement breastfeeding. It is also important to educate women to improve hygiene in their housing, in their neighborhood and in their community in order to promote the welfare and health of their children.