Darlene Birch gives a presentation on breastfeeding at the aboriginal community of Norway House in the province of Manitoba in July 2014.

Darlene Birch gives a presentation on breastfeeding at the aboriginal community of Norway House in the province of Manitoba in July 2014.
Photo Credit: Christine Queskekapow

Breastfeeding would help aboriginal babies: study

Promoting breastfeeding among aboriginal women could lead to “a substantial reduction in common infections and even deaths that are more common in Indigenous infants,” says a news release from St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto.

Compared to other Canadian children, aboriginal children suffer more gastrointestinal infection, lower respiratory infection, and ear infection “in excess frequency” and are “disproportionately affected” by sudden infant death syndrome, according to a paper published by Dr. Kathryn McIsaac.

Fewer aboriginal women nurse, but they do for longer

Science shows that breast milk contains antibodies that fight off viruses and bacteria. While 87.4 per cent of all Canadian mothers breastfeed, only 77.8 per cent of aboriginal mothers do, although they tend to do so for a longer period of time.

All babies should be breastfed

The World Health Organization recommends babies be breastfed exclusively for six months and that breastfeeding continue as food is added to the diet for up to two years or beyond.

McIsaac says it is important that any program to promote breastfeeding among indigenous mothers be developed in consultation with them and that it be delivered by indigenous women wherever possible.

Categories: Health, Indigenous, Society
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