India Sees Rise in Newborns Breastfed Within First Hour According to NFHS-6

The NFHS-6 survey reports an increase in the number of newborns breastfed in the first hour of life, reaching 50.1% in 2023-24. However, exclusive breastfeeding rates for the first six months have decreased. The survey indicates progress in child nutrition and stunting reductions in India.

An encouraging trend emerges from the latest National Family Health Survey-6, showing that the rate of breastfeeding newborns within the first hour has jumped to 50.1% for 2023-24, marking a nearly 10 percentage point increase over previous years.

The survey, conducted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) in Mumbai, reveals that 95.6% of infants under six months are breastfed. Despite progress in immediate post-birth breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding rates dipped from 63.7% to 55.8%. Further data indicates a decline in stunting from 35.5% to 29.3%. This suggests significant progress in tackling long-term nutritional challenges. Other improvements include severe wasting reduction and better feeding practices for infants and young children.

These advancements are attributed to initiatives like POSHAN Abhiyaan and POSHAN 2.0, alongside enhanced service delivery through programmes such as the Integrated Child Development Services. The NFHS-6 provides critical insights supporting health strategy planning across India.