Documentation sheet
Definition of indicator
Calculation (numerator, denominator)
Additional underlying concepts
Relevant dimensions (subgroups)
Preferred data sources
Rationale
Data availability, quality and periodicity
References
Work to do
Definition of indicator |  |
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Percent of newborns breastfed at age 6 and 12 months. |
Calculation (numerator, denominator) | |
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1) Peristat/Nutrition projects: percent of newborns (exclusively) breastfed at first 48 hours and at 6 months. 2) WHO-HFA: percent of infants reaching their first birthday in the given calendar year who were breastfed, at least partially, when they were i) 3 and ii) 6 months of age. 3) CHILD-project: 1) Percentage of newborn children exclusively breastfed at hospital discharge or immediately after birth. 2) Percentage of all 6 month old children exclusively breastfed at 6 months. 3) Percentage of all 12 month old children receiving breastfeeding at 12 months. |
Additional underlying concepts | |
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Exclusive versus partial breastfeeding. The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, and subsequent breastfeeding with appropriate complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years of age or beyond. Eurodiet-project: The average population goal is around 6 months, but for individuals exclusive breastfeeding should continue for at least four months and breast-feeding should be the principal source of milk for the infant until one year of age. |
Relevant dimensions (subgroups) | |
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Country, year, region Also: gender of child, age of mother, SES |
Preferred data sources | |
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Source type: interview survey data 1) Peristat and Nutrition projects data, based on national surveys 2) WHO-HFA 3) HIS: national HIS |
Rationale | |
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Breastfeeding is an important determinant of mother’s and child’s health and considered of crucial benefit to babies, in terms of both nutrients and resistance to infection. It is an issue of rising importance in public health. |
Data availability, quality and periodicity | |
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Availability: Peristat: Linked data available, 2004 data will be published soon. WHO-HFA: data for breastfeeding at 3 and at 6 months of age in the EU-27, but not truly comparable (definitions, recall period, year of data varies). HIS: in some, not always harmonised, especially on the point of yes/no, exclusive/partial breastfeeding. Not included in EHSS module. National HIS with questions on breastfeeding: at least DK (2000/02/04), RO (2000), NL (2001), IE (2002), FI (2002), LV (2003), ES (2003), PT (2005). But often HIS sample sizes are too small to derive reliable estimates. Comparisons among countries are not easy; the definitions and methods of data collection are different, not all countries gather regular data on breastfeeding and few has data on trends. CHILD-project: no data (ECHIM Survey records on 17.4.2007: 16 of 19 countries have prevalence data of varying quality.) |
References | |
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- The EUPHIX (European Union Public Health Information & Knowledge System, www.euphix.org); the Determinants of Health chapter dedicates a topic on breastfeeding among Health behaviours: http://www.euphix.org/object_class/euph_breastfeeding.html - WHO definitions of breastfeeding: http://www.euphix.org/object_document/o5506n27421.html - WHO, Department of Child and Adolescent Health and Development: http://www.who.int/child-adolescent-health/NUTRITION/global_strategy.htm - WHO, Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding (WHO, 2003) report: http://www.who.int/child_adolescent_health/documents/9241562218/en/index.html - WHO Global Data Bank on Infant and Young Child Feeding: http://www.who.int/nutrition/databases/infantfeeding/en/index.html - Monitoring and Evaluating Perinatal Health, Peristat: http://europeristat.aphp.fr/en/index.html - Eurodiet (Nutrition and Diet for Healthy Lifestyles in Europe) project: http://eurodiet.med.uoc.gr/ - Peristat: - CHILD-project - "Protection, promotion and support of breast-feeding in Europe: current situation": http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_projects/2002/promotion/fp_promotion_2002_a1_18_en.pdf |
Work to do | |
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What the indicator is meant to measure. If not unambiguous, all acceptable alternatives are to be listed in numbered preference order. The final decision on preference order/numbering is to be made by ECHIM coregroup.
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How to calculate the indicator (method, numerator, denominator, etc), in the same preference order as above if more than one alternative.
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Why the indicator is measured the chosen way (prevalence, incidence, mortality, absolute numbers etc.)? Also reasons for the preferred definition and calculation details can be included here.
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Should the indicator be stratified by e.g. age, gender, socio-economic status and area
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The type of data source; in the same preference order as above (typically either register data or HIS/HES).
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Why is this indicator important, from the public health point of view. (For example: size or dynamics of the problem/issue, evidence of the relevance of the issue in public health terms (for determinants) or evidence of intervention effectiveness (for prevention or care issues)).
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The recommended data source (e.g. Eurostat, OECD, WHO, national registers or HIS/HES, project databases etc.), in the same preference order as above; some notes on the quality and availability of the data for the indicator. Eventually, also information on the availability in coutries, as derived from the ECHIM survey.
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References to original publications, websites, EHIS-question/naire, PHP projects, etc.
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What should be done to improve and complete this sheet. Eventually, this cell should be blank.
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