ONLY ONE THIRD OF NEW BORN IN EIGHT EAG STATES OF INDIA ARE EXCLUSIVELY BREASTFED FOR AT LEAST SIX MONTHS

Bihar

For exclusive breastfeeding, there is no change from 2005-06 as observed during National Family Health Survey (NFHS) to Annual Health Survey (AHS) in 2010-11 and remains at 28 percent.

Jharkhand

Children exclusively breastfed for 6 months were 46 percent in 2010-11. The levels are lower for urban poor as compared to non poor in the year 2005-06.

Madhya Pradesh

    

The levels are less than half for urban poor (17.5) as compared to non poor (27.8) and equal the level of rural areas (13.1) during 2005-06. For exclusive breastfeeding also a marked improvement has been seen during 2005-06 to 2010-11.

Chhattisgarh

The level is less than half for urban poor (20.3) as compared to non poor (29.8) and was also less than the level of rural areas (24.8) during 2005-06. However for exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months, there is significant downward change from 2005-06 to 2010-11.

Odisha

The levels are less than half for urban poor (11.5) as compared to non poor (27.2) and equal the level of rural areas (11.4) during 2005-06. However for exclusive breastfeeding, there is no change from 2005-06 to 2010-11.

Rajasthan

The levels are less than half for urban poor (11.5) as compared to non poor (27.2) and equal the level of rural areas (11.4) during 2005-06. However for exclusive breastfeeding, there is no change from 2005-06 to 2010-11.

Uttar Pradesh

The levels are less than half for urban poor (4.6%) as compared to non poor (11%) and also less than the level of rural areas (7%) during 2005-06. Children exclusively breastfed for 6 months were just less than 18 percent in 2010-11.

Uttarakhand

The levels are about double for urban poor (48.5) as compared to non poor (26.7) and also higher the level of rural areas (34.6) during 2005-06. However for exclusive breastfeeding, there is no much change from 2005-06 to 2010-11.

Let us consider the information regarding Children (aged 6-35 months) breastfed exclusively for at least Six Months.

State	Children (aged 6-35 months) Breastfed exclusively for at least Six Months (%)
Bihar	28.5
Jharkhand	45.6
Madhya Pradesh	36.8
Chhattisgarh	47.5
Odisha	24.8
Rajasthan	24.7
Uttar Pradesh	17.7
Uttarakhand	38.2
All EAG States (Simple Average %)	33.0

It may be noted that in these eight EAG states (with half of India’s population) only one-third are seen to be breastfed exclusively for at least Six Months.