Researchers: Jagidesa Moodley, Yogan Pillay, Olive P. Khaliq November 2025 What Is The Study About? South Africa, like many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), is now facing a double burden of disease, rising rates of non-communicable diseases alongside ongoing infectious disease challenges. Increasing numbers of women of reproductive age are entering pregnancy with obesity, diabetes, hypertension and HIV – conditions that significantly raise the risk of maternal and

Key Breastfeeding Metrics Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) Rates According to data released by the National Department of Health and the National Food and Nutrition Security Survey, SA’s exclusive breastfeeding rate for infants under 6 months old has experienced a troubling downward trend: • (2024–2026): 22% of infants under six months are exclusively breastfed. • This is a notable decline from the 32% reported in the 2016 South African Demographic and Health Survey (SADHS).