Rates and time trends in the consumption of breastmilk, formula, and animal milk by children younger than 2 years from 2000 to 2019: analysis of 113 countries

Background Previous analyses of trends in feeding indicators of children younger than 2 years have been limited to low-income and middle-income countries. We aimed to assess time trends in the consumption of different types of milk (breastmilk, formula, and animal milk) by children younger than 2 years from 2000 to 2019 at a global level. Methods In this time-series analysis, we combined cross-sectional data from 487 nationally representative surveys from low-income and middle-income countries and information from high-income countries to estimate seven infant and young child feeding indicators in up to 113 countries. Multilevel linear models were used in pooled analyses to estimate annual changes in feeding practices from 2000 to 2019 for country income groups and world regions. Findings For the absolute average annual changes, we found significant gains in any breastfeeding at age 6 months in high-income countries (1.29 percentage points [PPs] per year [95% CI 1.12 to 1.45]; p<0.0001) and at age 1 year in high-income countries (1.14 PPs per year [0.99 to 1.28]; p<0.0001) and upper-middle-income countries (0.53 PPs per year [0.23 to 0.82]; p<0.0001). We also found a small reduction in low-income countries for any breastfeeding at age 6 months (-0.07 PPs per year [-0.11 to -0.03]; p<0.0001) and age 1 year (-0.13 PPs per year [-0.18 to -0.09]; p<0.0001). Data on exclusive breastfeeding and consumption of formula and animal milk were only available for low-income and middle-income countries, where exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months of life increased by 0.70 PPs per year (0.51-0.88; p<0.0001) to reach 48.6% (41.9-55.2) in 2019. Exclusive breastfeeding increased in all world regions except for the Middle East and north Africa. Formula consumption in the first 6 months of life increased in upper-middle-income countries and in east Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and north Africa, and eastern Europe and central Asia, whereas the rates remained below 8% in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia. Animal milk consumption by children younger than 6 months decreased significantly (-0.41 PPs per year [-0.51 to -0.31]; p<0.0001) in low-income and middle-income countries. Interpretation We found some increases in exclusive and any breastfeeding at age 6 months in various regions and income groups, while formula consumption increased in upper-middle-income countries. To achieve the global target of 70% exclusive breastfeeding by 2030, however, rates of improvement will need to be accelerated.

Automated summary

The study revealed increases in breastfeeding indicators for children at the age of 6 months in high-income countries, while there was a small decrease in low-income countries. Exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months of life increased globally, but rates varied significantly across regions.