11/12/2025
๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฑ, ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ: ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฏ ๐ก๐ก๐ฆ
According to the 2023 National Nutrition Survey (NNS), breastfeeding practices among children 0-23 months old decreased from 2021, while improvements in complementary feeding practices were observed.
Survey results revealed that:
โข 3 in 5 infants and young children (61.2%) were early initiated to breastfeeding within 1 hour after birth,
โข 1 in 2 (50.4%) infants below 6 months were exclusively breastfed,
โข 1 in 2 (53.3%) children continued to be breastfed for one year, and
โข 2 out of 5 (40.9%) continued to be breastfed for two years.
Both early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding showed a significant decline from 2021 to 2023.
On the other hand, slight improvements were observed in complementary feeding practices wherein 84.3% children were introduced to complementary foods at 6 months of age, compared to 80.0% in 2021.
However, challenges persist in the nutritional quality of complementary foods:
โข Only 1 in 10 (14.5%) children met the Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD), or those who were able to consume foods from 5 or more food groups.
โข Minimum Meal Frequency (MMF) was met by 9 out of 10 (93.3%) children.
โข Minimum Acceptable Diet (MAD), which should satisfy both MDD and MMF requirements, was met by only 1 out of 10 (13.9%) children.
The role of optimal Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices is crucial in improving child nutrition, health, growth, and development, particularly during the first two years of life. It is recommended that newborns are early initiated to breastfeeding within one hour after birth, exclusively breastfed from birth up to six months, and introduced to complementary foods at six months of age while continuing breastfeeding up to two years and beyond.
The 2023 NNS results on IYCF practices imply several critical challenges and opportunities in improving early childhood nutrition in the Philippines. The data reveals a concerning backslide in breastfeeding practices and a persistent gap in the nutritional quality of complementary foods. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions that go beyond feeding frequency- focusing on improving diet diversity, caregiver education, food affordability, and breastfeeding support systems.
The DOST-FNRI calls for multisectoral collaboration and reinforcement of the country's existing policies and interventions on infant and young child feeding. Stronger advocacy for optimal breastfeeding practices is essential, including ensuring early initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth in all health facilities, stricter enforcement of the Milk Code, and the expansion of Baby-Friendly Hospital initiatives. Without urgent action, the country risks increasing rates of child undernutrition, stunting, and micronutrient deficiencies during this critical developmental window.
