Let’s make breastfeeding and work, work!

Breastfeeding is crucial for the best growth and development. Evidence shows that breastfed infants have higher scores in intelligence tests, have lower risks of obesity and diabetes and are better protected against infections. Moreover, breastfeeding benefits mothers too, reducing the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Overall, breastfeeding has positive lifelong impacts on building healthier populations and workforces in the long run.

Despite these numerous advantages, only 39% of infants under 6 months are exclusively breastfed in the Western Pacific Region. Many countries lack data on this indicator, making it challenging to assess progress in the Region. Amongst the reporting countries, only four countries (Philippines, Samoa, Solomon, and Vanuatu) are on track to meet the global nutrition target for increasing the rate of exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months up to at least 50%. Fifteen countries have adopted legal measures on the International Code of Marketing for Breastmilk Substitutes and subsequent relevant World Health Assembly (WHA) resolutions.

World Breastfeeding Week 2023 presents a valuable opportunity to emphasize the importance of protecting, supporting and promoting breastfeeding. This year’s theme, ‘Let’s make breastfeeding and work, work!’, underscores the need for breastfeeding support regardless of the workplace setting. In the Region, 21 out of 27 countries have paid maternity leaves, but only three countries have at least 18 weeks paid maternity leaves. While 13 countries require employers to provide employees with paid breaks, only three of them have statutory provisions of facilities for breastfeeding or expressing milk. Policymakers, employers, managers, and colleagues can take actions to support mothers in breastfeeding, such as by offering at least 18 weeks (preferably 6 months) of paid maternity leave, providing time off for breastfeeding or expressing milk upon returning to work, creating conducive spaces for breastfeeding at the workplace, and implementing flexible return-to-work arrangements such as teleworking or part-time work.

More information about World Breastfeeding Week 2023.

Notes:
(i) For the indicator ‘Status of progress’, colour code represents:
Green: On course (Average Annual Rate of Reduction (AARR) ≥2.74++ or level <30% for not exclusively breastfed)
Yellow: Some progress (AARR <2.74 but ≥0.8 for not exclusively breastfed)
Red: No progress or worsening (AARR <0.8 for not exclusively breastfed)
Grey: No information is available

(ii) For the indicator 'Legal status of the Code', colour code represents:
Green: Substantially aligned with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (BMS) and subsequent relevant World Health Assembly resolutions (collectively referred as ‘the Code’) (encompassing a significant set of provisions of the Code, score of 75-100)
Yellow: Moderately aligned with the Code (encompassing a majority of the provisions of the Code, score of 50 - <75)
Orange: Some provisions of the Code (covering less than half of the provisions of the Code, score of <50)
Red: No legal measures (either no action, voluntary agreements or other non-legal measures)

(iii) For the indicator ‘Maternity leave’, duration of paid maternity leave is indicated in the Figure. Colour code represents:
Green: Meets recommended provisions of Recommendation R191 (at least 18 weeks of maternity leave, 100% of previous earnings paid for by a social programme)
Yellow: Meets basic provisions of Convention C183 (at least 14 weeks of maternity leave, at least 66.7% of previous earnings paid for by a social programme regardless of a ceiling)
Orange: Meets leave length requirement of Convention C183 (14 weeks) but not all other indicators OR data unclear (this includes countries with variable amounts paid)
Red: Doesn’t meet leave length requirement of Convention C183
Grey: No information is available

(iv) For the indicator ‘Standards on workplace accommodations’, this is derived based on provisions of paid nursing breaks and nursing facilities. Colour code represents:
Green: Legislation mandates provisions of both paid breaks and facilities for nursing
Yellow: Legislation mandates only provisions for facilities for paid breaks
Orange: Legislation mandates only provisions for facilities for nursing
Red: There is no legal measure to mandate paid nursing breaks nor facilities for nursing
Grey: No information is available

Other related links:

•WPRO Breastfeeding.

•WPRO. Protecting, supporting and promoting breastfeeding.

•WHO. Marketing of breast-milk substitutes: national implementation of the international code, status report 2022. ;

• WHO. Ten steps to successful breastfeeding.