PDF, 1536K - Measure DHS

The median and mean duration of breastfeeding are very similar: 25.5 months and 24.9 months,
respectively (Table 11.3). There is little difference in the duration of breastfeeding by sex of the child.
Rural children are breastfed for a slightly longer duration, as are children living in the Gambela Region
compared with all other regions. Highly educated mothers breastfeed their children for a shorter
duration than mothers with little or no education.
Both duration and frequency of breastfeeding can affect the length of postpartum amenorhea.
Table 11.3 shows that the majority of children under 6 months of age were breastfed 6 or more times
in the 24 hours preceding the survey. Breastfeeding is slightly more frequent in the daytime than at
night, with the mean number of feeds in the daytime being 7.9 compared with 6.2 at night.
Breastfeeding is more frequent among children residing in rural areas, children from Dire Dawa and the
Amhara and SNNP regions, and children of mothers with primary education.
11.4 TYPES OF SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD
Information on the types of food given to children under three years in the 24 hours preceding
the survey, according to their breastfeeding status, is shown in Table 11.4. In Ethiopia, the introduction
of other liquids such as water, juice, and formula takes place earlier than the recommended age of about
6 months. Even among the youngest breastfeeding children (