EUPHIX (www.euphix.org)

EUPHIX, European Public Health Information, Knowledge & Data Management System
Breastfeeding

Remarks

Definitions of breastfeeding recommended by WHO (source:WHO, 1991b)

Definition

Requires that the infant receives

Allows the infant to receive

Does not allow the infant to receive

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF)

Breast milk, including expressed breast milk or from a wet nurse

Drops, syrups (vitamins, minerals, medicines)

Anything else

Predominant breastfeeding (PBF)

Breast milk as the predominant source of nourishment

Drops, syrups plus liquids (water, water-based drinks, fruit juice, ritual fluids)

Anything else (in particular, non-human milk, food-based fluids)

Breastfeeding with complementary foods (CBF)

Breast milk and solid or semisolid foods or non-human milk

Any food or liquid including non-human milk

Non-breastfeeding (NBF)

No breast milk

Any food or liquid including non-human milk

Breast milk, including expressed breast milk or from a wet nurse

Remarks

The sum of EBF+ PBF is called full breastfeeding (FBF).

The sum of EBF+ PBF+ CBF is called breastfeeding (BF).

The sum of EBF+ PBF+ CBF+ NBF in a given sample or population must equal 100% as these categories are mutually exclusive.

The definition for CBF does not distinguish infants and children who take, in addition to breast milk, formula only, non-human milk only, solid or semisolid foods only, or different combinations and proportions of the above; nor does it take into account the proportion of breast milk on overall 24-hour food intake.