Latin America: breastfeeding prevalence 2019, by practice

The World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend the following breastfeeding practices: early initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth, exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life, and continued breastfeeding for two years or more, in addition to nutritionally adequate, age appropriate, and safely prepared complementary foods from six months onwards. In Latin America, approximately half of newborns were breastfed within one hour of birth, according to data collected between 2014 and 2019. The share of babies in the region who were exclusively breastfed during their first six months amounted to 38 percent that year, while 45 percent continued breastfeeding until they were 12 to 23 months old.