Exclusive breastfeeding under six months (EBF)
Indicator Name
Indicator ID in PRIME
Definition
This indicator measures the percentage of infants 0–5 months of age who were fed exclusively with breast milk during the first 6 months of life.
Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as breastfeeding with no other food or drink, not even water. Breastfeeding by a wet nurse, feeding of expressed breast milk, and feeding of donor human milk all count as being fed breast milk. Prescribed medicines, oral rehydration solution, vitamins and minerals are not counted as fluids or foods. However, herbal fluids and similar traditional medicines are counted as fluids, and infants who consume these are not exclusively breastfed.
Numerator
Infants 0–5 months of age who were fed only breast milk during the first 6 months of life
Denominator
Infants 0–5 months of age
Recommended Means of Verification
Collect the following data by conducting individual interviews with mothers of (a representative sample of) children aged 0 - 5 months:
Was [name] breastfed yesterday during the day or at night?
Was [name] given any other food or liquid during the day or at night?
To calculate the indicator's value, divide the number of children aged 0-5 months who received only breast milk during the previous day and night by the total number of children aged 0-5 months. Multiply the result by 100 to convert it to a percentage.
Indicator Prioritisation
Level of Indicator
Indicator Context Type
Theme
Sub Theme
Common Approach
Total Reach Indicator
Frequency of Data Collection
Unit of Measure
Data Format
Direction of Desired Change
Number of Decimal Points
Indicator is Rounding
Nature
Recommended Disaggregations
Kobo Form Questions
Question 4, Questions 6A-6Jswt, Questions 7A-7R
Other
Additional Guidance
Indicators for Assessing Infant and Young Children Feeding Practices (WHO/UNICEF 2021): https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240018389