Utilization of growth monitoring and promotion services and undernutrition of children less than two years of age in Northern Ghana

Table 4 Prevalence of the WHO-UNICEF–recommended (2021) infant and young child feeding indicators

Variable	Frequency	Percentage (%)
Early initiation of breastfeeding ¹
Yes	223	83.8
No	43	16.2
Exclusive breastfeeding up to 6 months ²
Yes	88	72.1
No	34	27.9
Introduction of solid, semi-solid, or soft food ³
Yes	22	84.6
No	4	15.4
Minimum meal frequency ⁴
Yes	124	86.1
No	20	13.9
Minimum dietary diversity ⁵
Yes	17	11.8
No	127	88.2

¹ percentage of children born in the last 24 months who were put to the breast within one hour of birth
² percentage of infants 0–5 months who were fed exclusively with breast milk during the previous day
³ percentage of infants 6–8 months who consumed solid, semisolid or soft foods during the previous day
⁴ percentage of children 6–23 months who consumed solid, semi-solid or soft foods (but also including milk feeds for non-breastfed children) at least the minimum number of times during the previous day
⁵percentage of children 6–23 months who consumed foods and beverages from at least five out of eight defined food groups during the previous day

ISSN: 2055-0928