Why variations in breastfeeding rates in rural and urban South Africa?: The case of Valencia and White River, Mpumalanga

Abstract

Breastfeeding plays a pivotal role in the baby's growth and development. Following the benefits of breastfeeding to both the mother and the child, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that infants be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of their lives before introduction to other foods. Despite this recommendation and the government’s effort to promote breastfeeding, South Africa remains one of the countries characterized by low (exclusive) breastfeeding levels worldwide. Low levels of breastfeeding are most evident in urban areas than in rural areas. This thesis examined the factors underpinning why there are variations in breastfeeding rates between rural and urban areas in South Africa.