Ignorance about breast-freeding lamented

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

JAKARTA: A government official said on Friday that almost half of the new mothers in this country failed to breast-feed their babies exclusively.

Director General of Public Health Development Azrul Azwar said the latest demographic and health survey found that only 52 percent of mothers complied with the government's call for breast-feeding their babies exclusively until they were four months old.

He said breast milk was recommendable as it contains docosa hexaaenoat (DHA), a substance which is necessary for brain development and that produces antigens to improve immunity during children's early growth period.

"Mothers should not give supplementary food to babies under four months old because the extra nutrition will adversely affect the absorption of breast milk," Azwar told Antara.

Since 1990, the World Health Organization has dedicated every August to a global campaign raising awareness of the benefits of breast-feeding.

Separately, nutritionist Muhilal expressed his concern over the misleading advertisements of most powdered milk brands, which claim to contain DHA and therefore could replace breast milk.

Muhilal, who chairs the Bogor-based Center for Nutrition and Food Research and Development, said powdered milk, which originates from cow's milk, could not match breast milk. Cow's milk and breast milk are different in chemical composition, he added.

He said powdered milk could have DHA added, but it easily deteriorates.

"DHA in breast milk works well because the milk is always fresh," Muhilal said.

He said that most human brain cells, probably up to 90 percent, were formed before a baby was born. The rest, he added, would grow within the next two years.

"Babies need breast milk because they are supposed to grow up to be thinkers, while calves are expected to grow only in strength," Muhilal said.