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. 2013 Mar 23;91(5):322–331. doi: 10.2471/BLT.12.111310

Table 1. Feeding practices in children younger than 2 years in 26 counties in central and western China, 2010.

Feeding practicea Children fed as described
No. %b (95% CI)
Breastfed at some time 2354 98.3 (97.6–99.0)
Breastfeeding initiated early (within 1 hour of birth) 2354 59.4 (54.2–64.6)
Exclusively breastfed (child younger than 6 months) 490 28.7 (15.0–42.3)
Predominantly breastfed (child younger than 6 months) 490 68.8 (61.8–75.1)
Continued breastfeeding at 1 year 356 55.5 (45.2–65.8)
Continued breastfeeding at 2 years 366 9.4 (6.0–14.4)
Age-appropriate breastfeeding 2354 42.2 (38.7–45.8)
Median duration of breastfeeding, months 2924c 15.0 (NA)
Timely introduction of complementary foodsd 419 89.7 (86.1–93.2)
Non-breastfed children (aged 6–23 months) who received at least two milk feedingse 897 69.8 (64.6–75.1)
Early introduction of soft, semisolid or solid food 490 18.7 (13.2–24.2)

CI, confidence interval; NA, not applicable.

a The feeding practice indicators are fully described in Appendix C (available at: http://www.unicefchina.org/en/index.php?m=content&c=index&a=show&catid=214&id=1512).

b Figures in this column are all percentages unless otherwise stated.

c The figure includes some older children who continued to breastfeed beyond 2 years of age.

d The recommended age for starting complementary feeding is 6 to 8 months.

e The frequency of milk feeding on the day before the survey was recorded.