Violations of the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes in South African health facilities

MSc (Nutrition), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015INTRODUCTION: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first six months of an infant's life is recognized by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children‟s Fund (UNICEF) as the most effective and essential strategy for optimal growth and prevention of infant mortality. One of the factors that influences a mothers choice to exclusively breastfeed her child, is the marketing of breast milk substitutes. The International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (ICMBS) was developed to promote, protect and support EBF. Although South Africa (SA) has voluntarily adopted the ICMBS in 1981 to help protect and promote EBF, the exclusive breastfeeding rates in SA remain very low (