No country in the world supports breastfeeding moms like they should, according to a new report released Tuesday by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

WHO and UNICEF recommend mothers breastfeed infants within the first hour of birth, exclusively for six months and continue breastfeeding, while adding complementary foods, until the child is at least 2-years-old. Breastfeeding has a host of health benefits, most notably improving a baby's immunity.

"Breastmilk works like a baby’s first vaccine, protecting infants from potentially deadly diseases and giving them all the nourishment they need to survive and thrive," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of WHO, said in a release.

By comparing breastfeeding rates around the world, the groups found rates nowhere near 100% in its Global Breastfeeding Scorecard, released at the start of World Breastfeeding Week.

Fewer than 44% report moms breastfeed infants within the first hour of birth.

Only 23 countries report exclusive breastfeeding rates at 6-months above 60%: Bolivia, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Eritrea, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Micronesia, Federated States of Nauru, Nepal, Peru, Rwanda, São Tome and Principe, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Swaziland, Timor-Leste, Uganda, Vanuatu and Zambia.

Laurence Grummer-Strawn, technical officer with the World Health Organization, said the U.S. received "several red lights" or "failing grades" in the report. Rates in the United States were considerably lower than the average. Fewer than 25% of American moms report exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months. The United States has no paid maternity leave, and data showed only 18% of hospitals support recommended breastfeeding practices. Grummer-Strawn also pointed out there's no regulation on how baby formula is advertised in the U.S., a reason moms could think formula is a substitute for breastmilk.

Why do mothers worldwide stop breastfeeding early? The "key reason" is the need to return to work away from their babies, the report says. We already know American moms say heading back to work is a barrier, among a host of other reasons. (Fewer than 25% of U.S. babies are exclusively breastfed for six months.)

The data also shows only 12% of countries meet International Labour Organization's recommendations on paid maternity leave of 18 weeks paid 100% by public funds.

"This is actually the first time ever that these data have been compiled and put together in one place so that we can compare across countries throughout the world," Grummer-Strawn said. "The results of the scorecard present a daunting reality."

Something to note: Tracking accurate breastfeeding rates is tricky, considering less than half of countries are collecting data on rates of breastfeeding.

UNICEF and WHO compiled available data to rally worldwide political, legal, financial and public support for breastfeeding. The groups are asking for lower and middle-income countries to invest $4.70 per newborn ($5.7 billion) in initiatives, such as access to breastfeeding counseling and improving breastfeeding practices in hospitals, to increase the global rate of 6-month exclusive breastfeeding to 50% by 2025. The Global Breastfeeding Collective suggests such an investment could save the lives more than 520,000 children under age five who die of preventable illnesses, annually, and could generate up to $300 billion in economic gains.

“Many people understand the importance of breastfeeding, but too often they assume that responsibility can be placed entirely on the mother," Grummer-Strawn said. "They don’t give consideration to the political, social and environmental factors that actually shape breastfeeding.”

View the full report at unicef.org/breastfeeding.

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