Impact of breastfeeding on mortality in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and cost-evaluation

Sub-Saharan Africa has lower breastfeeding rates compared to other low- and middle-income countries, and globally holds the highest under-five mortality rates. The aims of this study were to estimate mortality risk for inappropriate breastfeeding, prevalence of breastfeeding, population attributable fraction, and the economic impact of breastfeeding on child mortality, in sub-Saharan Africa. The systematic review included databases from Medline and CINAHL. Meta-analysis of mortality risk estimates was conducted using random effect methods. The prevalence of breastfeeding in Sub-Saharan African countries was determined using UNICEF’s database. Population attributable fraction was derived from the prevalence and relative risk data. The cost attributable to child deaths in relation to inappropriate breastfeeding was calculated using the World Health Statistics data. The pooled relative mortality risk to any kind of infant feeding compared to exclusive and early breastfeeding initiation were 5.71 (95%CI: 2.14, 15.23) and 3.3 (95%CI: 2.49, 4.46), respectively. The overall exclusive and early initiation of breastfeeding prevalence were 35%(95%CI: 32%;37%) and 47%(95%CI: 44%;50%), respectively. The population attributable fraction for non-exclusive and late breastfeeding initiation breastfeeding were 75.7% and 55.3%, respectively. The non-health gross domestic product loss resulted in about 19.5 USB$.

Conclusion: Public health interventions should prioritize appropriate breastfeeding practices to decrease the under-five mortality burden and its related costs in sub-Saharan Africa.