Forty percent of newborns are not breastfed within the first hour, says health experts

Health experts have said over 40 percent of newborns are not breastfed within the recommended first hour after birth.[File, Standard]

Health experts have said over 40 percent of newborns are not breastfed within the recommended first hour after birth.

The report indicates that owing to the denial of breastfeeding, the percentage of mothers turning to exclusive bottle feeding has been on the rise.

Dr. Nobert Abuya, speaking at Kigumo sub-county hospital in Murang’a during the World Breastfeeding Week, said 60 percent of newborns are breastfed within the first hour of birth, calling for concentrated efforts to attain 100 percent.

According to the data, nationally 89 percent of births are administered by skilled health personnel, but coincidentally only 60 percent of newborns are breastfed within the first hour as recommended by the health promoters.