DHS Survey Indicators Maternal and Child Nutrition

BREASTFEEDING

Initial breastfeeding  
Percentage of children born in the five (three) years preceding the survey who were ever breastfed, and who started breastfeeding within one hour of birth and within one day of birth, by selected background characteristics.
 
Breastfeeding status  
Percent distribution of living children by breastfeeding status, according to child's age in months.
 
Median duration and frequency of breastfeeding  
Median durations of any breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding and full breastfeeding among children under three years of age, according to background characteristics.
 
Percentage of children breastfed six or more times  
The percentage of children under 6 months of age who were breastfed six or more times in the 24 hours preceding the interview, according to background characteristics.


TYPE OF FOOD RECEIVED BY CHILD'S AGE

Type of foods received by child's age  
Percentage of breastfeeding children under three years who received various types of food in the 24 hours preceding the interview, and the percentage using a bottle with a nipple, by child's age in months.
 
NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF CHILDREN
 
Nutritional status by demographic characteristics  
Percentage of children under five (three) years who are classified as undernourished according to three anthropometric indices of nutritional status: height-for-age, weight-for-age, and weight-for-height, by demographic characteristics.
 
Nutritional status by background characteristics  
Percentage of children under five (three) years who are classified as undernourished according to three anthropometric indices of nutritional status: height-for-age, weight-for-age, and weight-for-height, by selected background characteristics.

NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF WOMEN

Anthropometric indicators for women  
Percentage of women shorter than 145 centimeters, and percentage of women whose BMI is less than 18.5, for women with births in the last three years preceding the survey. The body mass index (BMI) is the ratio of the weight in kilograms to the square of the height in meters (kg/m2). The BMI excludes pregnant women and those who are less than three months postpartum.
 
Anthropometric indicators for women (mean)  
Mean height, mean body mass index and mean height-for-age Z-score, by selected background characteristics.

Anthropometric indicators of maternal nutritional status  
Percent distribution, mean and standard deviation of height, weight and arm circumference for women who had a birth in the five (three) years preceding the survey by selected anthropometric indicators.

IODIZATION OF HOUSEHOLD SALT

Iodization of household salt  
Percent distribution of households with salt tested for iodine content, by level of iodine in salt (parts per million), percentage of households tested, and percentage of households with no salt, according to background characteristics.

 
MICRONUTRIENT INTAKE

Micronutrient intake among children  
Percentage of youngest children under age three living with the mother who consumed fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin A in the seven days preceding the survey, percentage of children age 6-59 months who received vitamin A supplements in the six months preceding the survey, and percentage of children under five living in households using adequately iodized salt, by background characteristics.
 
Micronutrient intake among mothers  
Percentage of women with a birth in the five years preceding the survey who received a vitamin A dose in the first two months after delivery, percentage who suffered from night blindness during pregnancy, percentage who took iron tablets or syrup for specific numbers of days, and percentage who live in households using adequately iodized salt, by background characteristics.


ANEMIA

Prevalence of anemia in children  
Percentage of children classified as having anemia. Hemoglobin levels are measured in grams per deciliter (g/dl).
 
Prevalence of anemia in women  
Percentage of women age 15-49 classified as having anemia. Hemoglobin levels are measured in grams per deciliter (g/dl).
 
Prevalence of anemia in children by anemia status of mother  
Percentage of children age 6-59 months classified as having anemia, by anemia status of mother.

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