# of primary caregivers counselled on Infant and Young Child Feeding
This indicator tracks how many primary caregivers of infants and young children had one or more IYCF counselling contacts with a trained frontline worker supported by – or working for – Save the Children.
- Primary caregiver: the person who is principally looking after a child at a given point in time and meets their physical needs more than anyone else. Although in most cases the primary caregiver is the child’s birth mother, this term also includes adoptive/foster mothers, carers working in institutions such as orphanages, temporary carers (e.g., in Ebola treatment centre nurseries) etc. and can also include fathers and other family members acting as the child’s primary caregiver.
- Infant: A child aged 0-11 completed months (0 -< 12m / 0 - < 1 year)
- Young Child: A child from the age of 12 months up to the age of 23 completed months (12 - <24m / 1 - < 2 years)
- IYCF Counselling: A two-way interaction between a trained IYCF counsellor and one or more pregnant women, mothers or other caregivers of children (most typically) under two years of age. The process involves assessment, analysis and action to help the caregiver decide on what is best for themselves and their child in their situation with regards to Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) and care practices. Includes face-to-face or remote, one-to-one or group counselling. Counselling is different from education and messaging.
Calculation: Sum of all caregivers registered has having been counselled at least once within reporting period.
Suggested Data Collection Method/Tool: Counselling register
Data Source: Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) counseling records, Facility Records / IMPACT (DHIS2)
Who Collects: Facility Personnel / Counsellors
From Whom: Caregivers
Frequency of Collection: Daily / Weekly
Frequency of Reporting: Monthly or Aligned with donor reporting requirements
How to Count/Aggregate Value: Reporting should be incremental. IYCF counselling can take place over multiple reporting periods (e.g. weekly or monthly counselling contact) Count only caregivers counselled for the first time within the reporting period (i.e. first counselling contact) to avoid double counting.