In Brazil, the breast-feeding exclusive reach 45.8% of babies up to six months, according to estimates by the Ministry of Health. The goal established by the World Health Organization (WHO) is to increase the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life by 50% by 2025.
for women, Breastfeeding reduces the risk of developing uterine cancer and breast cancer . For the baby, breast milk strengthens the immune system, reduces the risks of obesity, the development of diabetes, cases of diarrhea, respiratory infections, hypertension, high cholesterol, in addition to reducing mortality from preventable causes in children under five.
The percentages referring to the breastfeeding in Brazil indicate that the prevalence of breastfeeding in the first hour of life is 62%. For children under two years of age, the prevalence of breastfeeding is over 60%, according to the Secretariat of Primary Health Care.
According to the National Cancer Institute (INCA), during the breastfeeding period, the rates of hormones that favor the development of breast cancer fall in women. In addition, processes that occur during breastfeeding promote the elimination and renewal of cells that could have lesions in their genetic material, thus reducing the chances of the disease.
“The onset of the disease may be related to several factors, such as: age, behavioral and environmental aspects, genetic issues, hormonal disorders and reproductive history. That is, the age at which the woman started menstruating and when she stopped, or whether or not she had children,” says gynecologist and obstetrician Lana de Lourdes Aguiar Lima.
Estrogen stimulation is one of the risk factors for the onset of breast cancer. Breastfeeding is able to reduce the rates of this and other hormones that favor the development of this type of tumor.
The gynecologist explains that, based on studies on the subject, it is estimated that the risk of developing breast cancer decreases from 4.3% to 6% every 12 months of breastfeeding. And this protection does not depend on age, ethnicity, deliveries and the presence or absence of menopause.
Ministry launches campaign to encourage breastfeeding
With the theme “supporting breastfeeding is taking care of the future”, the Ministry of Health launched, on Monday (1st), the National Breastfeeding Campaign 2022, in reference to World Breastfeeding Week. The month of August is known as Golden August because it symbolizes the encouragement of breastfeeding – the golden color is related to the gold standard of human milk quality.
The initiative aims to strengthen exclusive breastfeeding for up to six months of a child’s life and its continuation up to two years or more, in addition to supporting women and support networks regarding safe breastfeeding and its benefits.
From 2013 to 2021, more than 60,000 Primary Health Care professionals were trained in the Breastfeeding and Feeding Brazil Strategy.
Source: CNN Brasil
