New Delhi, June 1 -- During the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) survey period, 95.6% of infants under six months were being breastfed, which indicates that breastfeeding remains nearly universal in India. However, if exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) under six months has declined, it suggests that more infants are receiving additional foods or liquids along with breast milk before completing six months.

"According to recent family health surveys, there is a decline in breastfeeding in India, which is quite paradoxical because there has been a major improvement in the maternal mortality rate because of institutionalization of childbirth. Now, why this is happening is probably because the urban caesarean deliveries have increased, and h...