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Indicator name:
Introduction of solid, semi-solid or soft foods (%)
Short name:
Introduction of solid, semi-solid or soft foods
Data type:
Percent
Indicator Id:
355
Topic:
Risk factors
Rationale:
Around the age of 6 months, an infant’s need for energy and nutrients starts to exceed what is provided by breast milk and complementary foods are necessary to meet energy and nutrient requirements. At about 6 months of age, an infant is also developmentally ready for other foods. If complementary foods are not introduced when a child has completed 6 months of age, or if they are given inappropriately, an infant’s growth may falter.
Definition:
Proportion of infants 6-9 months of age who receive solid, semi-solid or soft foods and breast milk. Please note: this indicator will be replaced with the indicator "Introduction of solid, semi-solid or soft foods: proportion of infants 6–8 months of age who receive solid, semi-solid or soft foods", when data become available.
Disaggregation:
Sex, Location (urban/rural), Boundaries : Administrative regions, Boundaries : Health regions
Method of measurement
Percentage of infants 6-9 months of age who receive solid, semi-solid or soft foods and breast milk = (infants 6-9 months of age who received solid, semi-solid or soft foods and breast milk during the previous day/infants 6-9 months of age) x 100.
M&E Framework:
Outcome
Method of estimation:
WHO maintains the WHO Global Data Bank on Infant and Young Child Feeding, which pools information mainly from national and regional surveys, and studies dealing specifically with the prevalence and duration of breastfeeding and complementary feeding. The process includes data checking and validation.
Preferred data sources:
Household surveys
Specific population surveys
Surveillance systems; All references to Kosovo should be understood to be in the context of the United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999)
Unit of Measure:
N/A
Expected frequency of data dissemination:
Continuous
Expected frequency of data collection:
Every 3-5 years
Links:
Global Nutrition Monitoring Framework – Operational Guidance for tracking progress in meeting targets for 2025 WHO, 2017.
Indicators for assessing infant and young child feeding practices, Part I: Definitions (WHO, UNICEF, USAID, AED, UCDAVIS, IFPRI, 2008)
Indicator Metadata Registry List
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