Demographic and Health Surveys Methodology - Measure DHS

C. Denominators:Calculation1. Number of breastfeeding last children born in the three years preceding the survey tointerviewed women.2. Number of non-breastfeeding last children born in the three years preceding the survey tointerviewed women.Numerators divided by denominator and quotient multiplied by 100 to get percentages.Handling of Missing ValuesBreastfeeding: Missing values and “don’t know” assumed not breastfeeding.Specific foods: Missing values and “don’t know” excluded from numerators in all percentages, butincluded in denominators.Notes and ConsiderationsCountry-specific foods may be added to each category. Percentages are based only on children living withthe mother. Children living elsewhere are excluded from both the numerators and the denominators.Guide to DHS Statistics 128 Updated September 2006