Inflation, Food Insecurity: Nigeria’s Exclusive Breastfeeding Paradox
Nigerian mothers are struggling to maintain exclusive breastfeeding practices due to severe inflation and food insecurity. Despite the health benefits of breastfeeding, economic hardship is forcing many to prioritize basic survival over nutritional recommendations.
Why it matters
The intersection of economic instability and public health highlights the vulnerability of maternal and child nutrition in developing nations.
By Abujah Racheal, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
In spite of the stifling heat in the room, 28-year-old Mrs Ojima Ndudi, from the Aso community in Nasarawa State’s Karu Local Government Area, remains completely unfazed.
She focuses entirely on her three-month-old son, who is crying intensely and struggling to nurse.
“I keep waiting for my milk to flow, but today my breasts feel light. Sometimes I wonder whether he is getting enough.”
Like millions of Nigerian mothers, Ndudi wants to exclusively breastfeed her baby for the first six months as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
But rising food prices and shrinking household incomes have turned that recommendation into a daily struggle.
“I keep asking myself one question: if the economy is starving me, how am I supposed to keep my baby alive?” she asked. .
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in