This is less than half the global average, according to UNICEF's 2019 breastfeeding scorecard, and far below the Chinese government's aim to have 50 percent of mothers nursing by this year. Only 12 percent of babies in China are born in hospitals where staff have lactation knowledge, according to UNICEF. "Infant formula is now advertised as having the same nutrients as breast milk, which is a total lie," Fang adds. It was revised to 85 percent consuming breast milk alongside formula -- but even this could not be reached. Breastfeeding also protects the mother from diabetes, breast and ovarian cancers, heart disease and postpartum depression, UNICEF said.

Source: Bangkok Post August 20, 2020 01:41 UTC