Indicators for assessing infant and young child feeding practices
Definitions and measurement methods
The UNICEF and WHO Technical Expert Advisory Group on Nutrition Monitoring (TEAM) have released updated indicator guidance on infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices among children under 2 years of age for use in household surveys. This guidance document provides an update to the 2008 guide which covered indicator definitions, and the 2010 guide which covered operational instructions.
The 2021 edition includes a total of 17 recommended IYCF indicators. This guidance contains the first ever global standard indicators to measure unhealthy eating practices among infants and young children – covering sweet beverage consumption, unhealthy sugary/salty food consumption and zero vegetable and fruit consumption. The document also provides guidance and standard tools needed for collecting, analyzing and reporting on the IYCF indicators.