Chapter 3 Additional World Health Assembly nutrition indicators

3.2 Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life

The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in Africa, at 43.6 percent, is just under the global rate of 44 percent, although it is much lower in Southern (33.5 percent) and Western Africa (32.3 percent) and substantially higher in Eastern Africa (60.7 percent). There is no data available for Central Africa for 2019. When data is available, most countries and all regions show improvement, although for Northern Africa the improvement is relatively marginal (Figure 19 and Table 11).

FIGURE 19.

Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0–5 months of age in Africa by subregion

Source: UNICEF.
https://doi.org/10.4060/cb7496en-fig19
TABLE 11.

Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0–5 months of age (percent)

20122019
World37.044.0
Africa35.543.6
Central Africa28.5
Eastern Africa48.660.7
Northern Africa40.742.1
Southern Africa33.5
Western Africa22.132.3
Source: UNICEF.

Of all the subregions, only Eastern Africa is on track towards meeting the WHA exclusive breastfeeding target for 2030. Northern and Western Africa are off course but have made some progress, while for Central and Southern Africa no assessment is possible.19 19 FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP & WHO. 2021. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021. Transforming food systems for food security, improved nutrition and affordable healthy diets for all. Rome, FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb4474en

FIGURE 20.

Prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding among infants 0–5 months of age in Africa by country

Source: UNICEF.
https://doi.org/10.4060/cb7496en-fig20