Page 175 - ANUAL REPORT MOH 2017

Image 26
Launching Of Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) For Malaysia 2017 at 1st Southeast Asia
Public Health Nutrition (SEA-PHN) Conference

Source: Nutrition Division, 2017

FAMILY NUTRITION BRANCH

INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD FEEDING

For optimal growth and development of infants and young children in Malaysia, all infants should be
breastfed exclusively from birth until six months of age. Complementary foods should be introduced
at the age of six months while continuing to breastfeed to two years. Feeding of all infants and young
children should be timely, adequate, safe, appropriate and proper. Since 2009, breastfeeding rates in
Malaysia have continued to increase. Exclusive breastfeeding at 6 months had increased from 55.7
per cent in 2016 to 61.5 per cent in 2017 (Figure 60). The timely initiation of complementary feeding
in Malaysia at 6months had increased from 94.6 per cent in 2016 to 96.4 per cent in 2017 (Figure 61).

Figure 60
Exclusive Breastfeeding Practices at 6 Months

Source: State Health Department, 2017

174 ANNUAL REPORT 2017 MINISTRY OF HEALTH MALAYSIA