A billion dollars and two thousand lives, every day. This impactful study, which is the foundation for Alive and Thrive’s online tool, examines the human and economic costs of not breastfeeding.

Large-scale behavior change interventions, delivered through a variety of platforms – government health systems, community-based platforms, and mass media – had substantial impacts in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Vietnam.

This study suggested that supportive social and political environments can play an important role in empowering women, which in turn advances human rights and promotes health and well-being of individuals, households, communities, and countries.

To increase breastfeeding rates, this study explores the potential cost to optimizing paid maternity protection programs, as well as challenges to its implementation in Indonesia.

Advocacy efforts are needed to help countries align with international frameworks when improving infant and young child feeding (IYCF) policies.