Campaign for Promotion of Breastfeeding: Evolution, Experience and Future Directions

Abstract

Breast-feeding is the most important form of infant nutrition. Unfortunately there has been a steady decline in breast-feeding practices in the post industrialized era. Breast milk substitutes, a major threat to breast-feeding, are indeed a big business. The global market in 1983 was estimated to be 3.3 billion dollars Chetley, 1996 and in 1991 over 6 billion Anand, 1996. In India, it is estimated to be 180 million pounds, growing at 6 per cent every year Prakash, 1992. The invasion of the markets with a product seeking to substitute (though poorly) nature's gift to the new born child evoked public resentment in the form of various campaigns.