There are serious health and economic consequences associated with not breastfeeding.
Globally, the World Health Assembly (WHA) has set a target to increase the exclusive breastfeeding rate to 50% by 2025. By the time these targets were set in 2012, Madagascar had already reached a national exclusive breastfeeding rate of 50%. In recent years, however, breastfeeding rates have slipped below the target. Today, 42% of children under six months are exclusively breastfed. More must be done to drive progress and ensure all children are able to thrive.
26 million (M)
$12 billion (B)
Lorsqu’un enfant n'est pas allaité, il a moins de chance de survivre. Il est plus susceptible de contracter des maladies potentiellement mortelles et d'être moins capable de combattre les maladies.
Les enfants qui ne sont pas allaités (nourris au sein) sont plus susceptibles de boire de l'eau insalubre (utilisée dans la préparation du lait maternisé (lait en poudre) et ont un système immunitaire moins développé. Cela signifie qu'ils sont plus susceptibles de contracter des agents pathogènes causant la diarrhée et la pneumonie. Les effets de ces infections peuvent durer toute la vie.
Lorsqu'un enfant n'est pas allaité au sein, les familles doivent acheter des substituts du lait maternel tels que les préparations pour nourrissons, ce qui est coûteux, surtout pour les familles des pays à revenu faible ou moyen.
Lorsque les enfants ne sont pas allaités au sein, les enfants et les mères sont plus susceptibles de tomber malades et ont besoin de se faire soigner. Il en résulte des coûts de traitement importants pour les systèmes de santé.
There are serious health consequences associated with not breastfeeding.
When children are not breastfed, they are at higher risk of illness and death. Later in life, mothers who do not breastfeed are more prone to develop life-altering and life-threatening cancers and Type II diabetes.
Impact of not breastfeeding on morbidity and mortality in:
| Preventable cases | Preventable Deaths | |
|---|---|---|
| Diarrhea | 1,417,110 | 1,047 |
| Acute respiratory infections/pneumonia | 60,381 | 1,690 |
| Obesity | 0 | Not Available |
| Preventable cases | Preventable Deaths | |
|---|---|---|
| Breast cancer | 74 | 16 |
| Ovarian cancer | 15 | 13 |
| Type II diabetes | 370 | 23 |
There are serious economic consequences to not breastfeeding.
Currently, Madagascar suffers economic losses because only 42% of children are exclusively breastfed. These economic losses are the result of:
- Higher health systems costs, as children and mothers develop illnesses that could have been prevented by breastfeeding practices;
- Lost productivity, as children who were not breastfed are less likely to fully develop and fully contribute to the economy, and;
- Higher household expenditures, as families need to purchase breastmilk substitutes like formula when they do not breastfeed their children
Impact of not breastfeeding on:
In Madagascar, health systems incur costs when treating illnesses that could have been prevented by breastfeeding.
| Type II diabetes in mothers | $9,916 |
| Diarrhea in children | $1,238,005 |
| Acute respiratory infection/pneumonia in children | $153,659 |
| Total in USD | $1,401,579 |
| Total as a % of Gross National Income (GNI) | 0.014% |
When families do not breastfeed their children, they need to purchase formula. This results in the following household costs.
| In USD | $40,668,285 |
| Total as a % of nominal wages | Not Available |
The health of an economy impacts a child’s earning potential. Put simply, the earning potential of a child living in a country with a low GDP will be smaller than that of a child living in a country with a high GDP. As GDP grows, a child’s lifetime earning potential grows. Yet, inadequate breastfeeding can limit a child’s development and earning potential.
See how different rates of GDP growth impact costs of not breastfeeding
Economic losses in Madagascar due to inadequate breastfeeding when the country's GDP is growing at 0%
Currently, 42% of children are exclusively breastfed in Madagascar. Explore the data below to see how the economic losses of inadequate breastfeeding at this rate change as the GDP grows more quickly or slowly.
The cost of inadequate breastfeeding due to preventable deaths.
The cost of inadequate breastfeeding due to cognitive losses
The total cost of inadequate breastfeeding (combined health system, mortality, and cognitive losses)
Economic losses in Madagascar due to inadequate breastfeeding when the country's GDP is growing at 3%
Currently, 42% of children are exclusively breastfed in Madagascar. Explore the data below to see how the economic losses of inadequate breastfeeding at this rate change as the GDP grows more quickly or slowly.
The cost of inadequate breastfeeding due to preventable deaths.
The cost of inadequate breastfeeding due to cognitive losses
The total cost of inadequate breastfeeding (combined health system, mortality, and cognitive losses)
Economic losses in Madagascar due to inadequate breastfeeding when the country's GDP is growing at 5%
Currently, 42% of children are exclusively breastfed in Madagascar. Explore the data below to see how the economic losses of inadequate breastfeeding at this rate change as the GDP grows more quickly or slowly.
The cost of inadequate breastfeeding due to preventable deaths.
The cost of inadequate breastfeeding due to cognitive losses
The total cost of inadequate breastfeeding (combined health system, mortality, and cognitive losses)
Economic losses in Madagascar due to inadequate breastfeeding when the country's GDP is growing at 7%
Currently, 42% of children are exclusively breastfed in Madagascar. Explore the data below to see how the economic losses of inadequate breastfeeding at this rate change as the GDP grows more quickly or slowly.
The cost of inadequate breastfeeding due to preventable deaths.
The cost of inadequate breastfeeding due to cognitive losses
The total cost of inadequate breastfeeding (combined health system, mortality, and cognitive losses)
Economic losses in Madagascar due to inadequate breastfeeding when the country's GDP is growing at 10%
Currently, 42% of children are exclusively breastfed in Madagascar. Explore the data below to see how the economic losses of inadequate breastfeeding at this rate change as the GDP grows more quickly or slowly.
