Table 3.

Breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices in infants and children 0–23 months old*. In‐depth analysis of the 2012 Comprehensive Nutrition Survey in the state of Maharashtra, India

	Proportion (%)
Breastfeeding practices
Children ever breastfed: proportion (%) of children born in the last 24 months who were ever breastfed	99.4
Early initiation of breastfeeding: proportion (%) of children 0–23 months who were put to the breast within 1 h of birth	59.4
Prelacteal feeding: proportion (%) of children 0–23 months old who received prelacteal feeds	3.7
Exclusive breastfeeding under 6 months: proportion of infants 0–5 months of age who are fed exclusively with breast milk	59.8
Predominant breastfeeding under 6 months: proportion (%) of infants 0–5 months of age who are predominantly breastfed	92.2
Continued breastfeeding at 1 year: proportion (%) of children 12–15 months of age who are fed breast milk	91.1
Continued breastfeeding at 2 years: proportion of children 20–23 months of age who are fed breast milk	74.9
Complementary feeding practices
Introduction of solid, semi‐solid or soft foods: proportion (%) of infants 6–8 months of age who receive solid, semi‐solid or soft foods	58.6
Minimum meal frequency: proportion (%) of children 6–23 months who receive solid/semi‐solid/soft foods a minimum number of times/day	77.0
Minimum dietary diversity: proportion of children 6–23 months of age who receive foods from four or more food groups	6.0
Consumption of iron‐rich or iron‐fortified foods: proportion of children 6–23 months who are fed iron‐rich foods†	12.1

^* For full definitions of the indicators for assessing infant and young child feeding practices, refer to the following: World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). (2008) Indicators for assessing infant and young child feeding practices. WHO. Geneva, Switzerland.

^† Or an iron‐fortified food that is specially designed for infants and young children, or that is fortified in the home.