Exclusively Breastfed for the First Two Days After Birth
Indicator Phrasing
English: % of children born in the last 24 months who were fed exclusively with breast milk for the first two days after birth
French: % d'enfants nés au cours des 24 derniers mois qui ont été nourris exclusivement avec du lait maternel pendant les deux premiers jours après la naissance
Spanish: % de niños nacidos en los últimos 24 meses que fueron alimentados exclusivamente con leche materna durante los dos primeros días después del nacimiento
Portuguese: % de crianças nascidas nos últimos 24 meses que foram alimentadas exclusivamente com leite materno nos primeiros dois dias após o nascimento
Czech: % dětí narozených za posledních 24 měsíců, které byly první dva dny po narození krmeny výhradně mateřským mlékem
What is its purpose?
It is common in many countries to give newborns other foods and liquids apart from breastmilk in the first few days after birth, such as sugar water, honey, alternative milks or tea. This practice can delay newborns' first critical contact with their mother, and can make it more difficult to establish breastfeeding over the long term. Therefore, this indicator measures the extent to which the WHO recommendation of feeding only breastmilk is followed.
How to Collect and Analyse the Required Data
Collect the following data by conducting individual interviews with mothers of (a representative sample of) children aged 0 - 23 months:
RECOMMENDED SURVEY QUESTION (Q) AND POSSIBLE ANSWERS (A)
Q1: How long after birth did you put [child's name] to the breast?
A1: _
1) within one hour of birth
2) within ________ hours of birth
3) within ________ days of birth
4) child was never breastfed
5) does not remember
(ask the following question only if the child was breastfed within the first two days after birth)
Q2: In the first two days after delivery, was [child's name] given anything other than breast milk to eat or drink – anything at all like water, infant formula, or [insert common drinks and foods, including ritual feeds, that may be given to newborn infants]?
A2: _
1) yes
2) no
3) doesn't remember
If the respondent has more than one child aged 0 - 23 months, ask Q1 and Q2 about all the children aged 0 - 23 months.
To calculate the indicator's value, divide the number of children aged 0 - 23 months who were fed exclusively with breast milk (see below) for the first two days after birth by the total number of surveyed children aged 0 - 23 months (excluding those who did not remember). Multiply the result by 100 to convert it to a percentage.
E-Questionnaire
Important Comments
1) According to WHO/UNICEF (see below), 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 human donor 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.
Access Additional Guidance
- WHO/UNICEF (2021) Indicators for Assessing IYCF Practices (.pdf)
- FAO (2008) Guidelines for Estimating the Month and Year of Birth of Young Children (.pdf)