Table 1.
Eight core indicators for assessing infant and young child feeding
| 1. Early Initiation of breastfeeding: |
| Children born in the last 23.9 months and breastfed within 1 h of birth |
| Disaggregated and reported for live births in the last 11.9 months and live births occurring between the last 12 and 23.9 months |
| 2. Exclusive breastfeeding under 6 months: |
| Infants 0–5.9 months of age who received only breast milk during the previous day |
| Infants 0–5.9 months of age |
| Disaggregated for the following age groups: 0–1.9, 2–3.9 and 4–5.9 months |
| 3. Continued breastfeeding at 1 year: |
| Children 12–15.9 months of age who received breast milk during the previous day |
| Children 12–15.9 months of age |
| 4. Introduction of solid, semi‐solid or soft foods: |
| Infants 6–8.9 months of age who received solid, semi‐solid or soft foods during the previous day |
| Infants 6–8.9 months of age |
| 5. Minimum dietary diversity: |
| Children 6–23.9 months of age who received foods from ≥4 food groups during the previous day |
| Children 6–23.9 months of age |
| Disaggregated for age groups 6–11.9, 12–17.9 and 18–23.9 months |
| 6. Minimum meal frequency: |
| Breastfed children 6–23.9 months of age who received solid, semi‐solid or soft foods the minimum number of times or more during the previous day |
| Breastfed children 6–23.9 months of age |
| Disaggregated for age groups 6–11.9, 12–17.9 and 18–23.9 months |
| Where minimum equals: |
| two times for breastfed infants 6–8.9 months |
| three times for breastfed children 9–23.9 months |
| 7. Minimum acceptable diet: |
| Breastfed children 6–23.9 months of age who received at least the minimum dietary diversity and the minimum meal frequency during the previous day |
| Breastfed children 6–23.9 months of age |
| Disaggregated for age groups 6–11.9, 12–17.9 and 18–23.9 months |
| 8. Consumption of iron‐rich or iron‐fortified food: |
| Children 6–23.9 months of age who received an iron‐rich food, or a food that was specially designed for infants and young children and was fortified with iron, or a food that was fortified in the home with a product that included iron during the previous day |
| Children 6–23.9 months of age |
| Disaggregated for age groups 6–11.9, 12–17.9 and 18–23.9 months |
Source: Indicators for assessing infant and young child feeding practices, conclusions of a consensus meeting held 6–8 November 2007 in Washington, DC, USA (WHO 2008a).