The fundamental importance of breastfeeding for health and development
Date
2020
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
African Sun Media
Abstract
How an infant is nourished in early life is central to the DOHaD hypothesis
regarding the later onset of chronic non-communicable diseases, especially where
feeding practices result in either stunting of growth or excessive weight gain.
This chapter reviews the evolutionary history of the origins of breastfeeding and
summarises studies evaluating its benefits.
Mammals take their name from the Latin word mamma for the teat. This root also
gave rise to the term mammary gland, which, along with the associated behaviour of
suckling offspring, is a universal feature of all mammals alive today. Human cultural
practices over the past 5 000 years or so, notably including the exploitation of milk
from other mammals and eventual development of milk formulae, have exerted a
major impact on breastfeeding. The greatest effects have occurred in industrialised nations, where many mothers breastfeed for only a few months, if at all, and
breastfeeding beyond a year is rare. Because of pervasive cultural influences, it is
difficult to establish a ‘natural’ period for human breastfeeding that would include
an initial period of exclusive breastfeeding, followed by a phase of supplementary
feeding. Information from modern hunting-and-gathering populations and other
non-industrialised societies indicate an average total duration of at least two-and-ahalf
years, with a wide range of variation extending up to around five years.
Whenever tested, the benefits of breastfeeding for infants have been found to show
a dose-response relationship, with the greatest benefits shown with breastfeeding
for two to three years. Breastfeeding is also beneficial for mothers. There have been
recent claims that over-enthusiastic promotion of breastfeeding, given the label
‘activism’ is both unkind and unwarranted. While it is true that women who, for
whatever reason, are unable to breastfeed, need support and not bullying, it is both
unjustifiable and irresponsible to dismiss the very substantial scientific evidence
that now exists for the undoubted benefits of breastfeeding.
Description
CITATION: Martin, R. D. 2020. The fundamental importance of breastfeeding for health and development, in Macnab, A., Daar, A. & Pauw, C. 2020. Health in transition : translating developmental origins of health and disease science to improve future health in Africa. Stellenbosch: SUN PReSS, doi:10.18820/9781928357759/06.
The original publication is available at https://africansunmedia.store.it.si/za
The original publication is available at https://africansunmedia.store.it.si/za
Keywords
Breastfeeding
Citation
Martin, R. D. 2020. The fundamental importance of breastfeeding for health and development, in Macnab, A., Daar, A. & Pauw, C. 2020. Health in transition : translating developmental origins of health and disease science to improve future health in Africa. Stellenbosch: SUN PReSS, doi:10.18820/9781928357759/06.