Continued Breastfeeding 12-23 Months

Outcome

% of children 12–23 months of age who received breast milk during the previous day or night

Breastfeeding should be continued up to two years or beyond. This indicator estimates the prevalence of breastfeeding during the second year of life in relation to this recommended practice. It is a population-level current-status indicator and does not measure breastfeeding frequency, total breastfeeding duration, or whether breastfeeding continued until the child reached two years of age.

Collect the data through a representative survey of children aged 12–23 months. In household surveys, include every living child in this age range in the sampled households. For each eligible child, interview the person who knows most about the child’s care and feeding during the previous day. If several people fed the child during the reference period, involve them as needed.

     

RECOMMENDED SURVEY QUESTIONS (Q) AND POSSIBLE ANSWERS (A)

Q1: What is [child’s name]’s date of birth?

A1: ___ day / ___ month / ___ year

Q2: Was [child’s name] breastfed yesterday during the day or at night?

A2: yes / no / does not know

Ask questions Q1 and Q2 for each child aged 12–23 months in the surveyed households.

  

To calculate the indicator’s value, divide the number of children aged at least 12 months (365 days) and less than 24 months (730 days) who were breastfed during the previous day or night by the total number of surveyed children in this age range. Multiply the result by 100 to convert it to a percentage.

Responses recorded as “no”, “does not know”, missing or invalid should not be included in the numerator, but the child should remain in the denominator. Breastfeeding by a wet nurse and feeding expressed breast milk both count as receiving breast milk.

This data can be disaggregated by the child’s sex and age group (12–15 months, 16–19 months and 20–23 months), and, if relevant and feasible, also by place of residence and household wealth. As a general rule, do not report an estimate when its denominator contains fewer than 25 unweighted children; larger denominators may be required for acceptable precision.

1) This indicator replaces the previous indicators for continued breastfeeding at one year (among children aged 12–15 months) and two years (among children aged 20–23 months).

2) The indicator describes whether breast milk was received during one approximately 24-hour reference period. It should not be used to screen or assess individual children or caregivers. It also cannot distinguish regular breastfeeding from occasional breastfeeding or determine the age at which breastfeeding ceased.

    

3) This indicator relies on an accurate age assessment. Since people often do not remember the exact dates of their children’s birth, the data collectors should always verify the child’s age. This can be done by reviewing the child’s birth certificate, vaccination card or another document; however, since many caregivers do not have such documents (and since they can include mistakes), it is essential that your data collectors are able to verify the child’s age by using local events calendars. Read FAO’s Guidelines (see below) to learn how to prepare local events calendars and how to train data collectors in their correct use.

 

Also consider using the following indicators:

• Minimum Acceptable Diet (assesses the adequacy of complementary feeding alongside breastfeeding)

• Minimum Dietary Diversity - Children (provides more diagnostic information on the quality of children’s diets)

• Access to Skilled Breastfeeding Counselling (measures access to an enabling service that can help sustain breastfeeding)