Outcomes Infant and young child feeding practices

Infants (0-5 months): Exclusive breastfeeding

Definition

Proportion of infants 0–5 months who are fed exclusively with breast milk.

Relevance

For optimal infant health, the WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding (no formula, water, or other supplemental foods) until the age of 6 months. Infants who do not receive exclusive breastfeeding may be at greater risk for nutritional deficiencies and infectious diseases (https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/infant-and-young-child-feeding).