South African Family Practice

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) could be the primary source of food for infants and could support optimal growth and development for the first six months of life. Several lifelong maternal, child and societal health benefits have been associated with EBF.1 Recent data suggest that EBF can substantially mitigate the risk of both shortand long-term health defects, such as stunted growth and impaired cognitive ability.2 Similarly, optimal breastfeeding has been reported to prevent around 12% of deaths in the under 5 years age group every year, amounting to around 800 000 lives being saved in lowand middle-income countries.3 However, despite all the potential advantages, the practice of EBF is consistently low in sub-Saharan Africa.4 Factors such as poor understanding and cultural perceptions of EBF, as well as conflicts between traditional beliefs and EBF, have been identified as barriers to the sustainability of EBF on the continent.5,6