Microsoft Word - AMICS-29Jan2013 - Childinfo.org

Percentage of living children according to breastfeeding status at selected age groups, Afghanistan, 2010-2011
Children age 12-15
Children age 0-5 months
months
Percent
Percent Percent
breastfed
Number of
Number of
exclusively predominantly
(Continued
breastfed 1 breastfed 2 children
children
breastfeeding
at 1 year) 3
Children age 20-23
months
Percent
breastfed
(Continued
breastfeeding
at 2 years) 4
West 47.8 68.2 150 89.2 120 77.4 77
Residence
Number of
children
Urban 50.9 64.4 248 78.3 162 55.8 100
Rural 55.2 70.5 954 89.6 850 72.4 461
Mother s education
None 55.4 69.7 1,039 88.8 913 70.2 510
Primary 58.8 76.0 80 70.5 51 (61.3) 26
Secondary + 36.4 57.5 84 87.0 47 (62.8) 25
Wealth index quintile
Poorest 57.8 73.1 185 93.9 213 71.5 121
Second 54.2 71.6 257 89.8 230 80.3 121
Middle 54.6 67.8 235 90.7 210 72.6 116
Fourth 51.6 67.6 249 86.8 168 63.2 110
Richest 54.2 67.2 277 76.1 191 56.0 94
Total 54.3 69.2 1,202 87.8 1,012 69.4 561
1
MICS indicator 2.6; 2 MICS indicator 2.9; 3 MICS indicator 2.7; 4 MICS indicator 2.8
Figures in parenthesis indicate that the percentage is based on only 25-49 unweighted cases.
Approximately 54% of children aged less than six months are exclusively breastfed. By age 12-
15 months, 88% of children are still being breastfed and by age 20-23 months, 69% are still
breastfed. Although there is minimal difference between exclusive breastfeeding in girls (55%)
and boys (53%), boys at 12-15 months (90%) and 20-23 months (71%) continue receiving
breastfeeding more than girls (85% and 68% respectively). While children in the Western region
are least likely to be exclusively breastfed, they are more likely to continue to be breastfed at
two years of age compared to children from the South Eastern region and Central region. More
interestingly, children living in the households falling in the richest quintile (54%) are slightly less
breastfed than their peers in the poorest quintile (58%). In terms of the mother s education,
mothers with secondary education or higher exclusively breastfed their children aged 0-5
months less so (36%) than mothers with primary education (59%).
Figure 5.2 shows the detailed pattern of breastfeeding by children s ages in months. Even at the
earliest ages, almost 40% of children are receiving liquids or foods other than breast milk. By
the end of the sixth month, the percentage of children exclusively breastfed is below 30%. Only
about 8% of children are receiving breast milk after two years.
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