Table 1 Measurement of exposure and outcomes variables
Variable | Definition |
|---|---|
Exposure variable | |
EBF | The percentage of babies who were fed breast milk as the only source of nutrition but allowed drops or syrups of vitamins, medicines, and oral rehydration solution To determine EBF status of babies from birth to 6 months of age, mothers were asked (i) whether the baby was still being breastfed; (ii) the duration of breastfeeding; and (iii) whether they had given the baby any other milk, liquids, solids, powdered milk, soft foods, or water in the 24 h preceding the interview |
Early initiation of breastfeeding | The percentage of babies within 0–6 months of age who commenced breastfeeding within 1 h of birth |
Bottle feeding | The percentage of babies 0–6 months of age who were fed any liquid (including breast milk) or semi-solid food from a bottle with nipple/teat during the last 24 h |
Outcome variable | |
Diarrhoea | Defined as the passage of three or more loose or liquid stools per day. This was based on maternal recall of symptoms of the infant in the last 2 weeks preceding the survey |
ARI | Mothers were asked if the infant had a cough accompanied by short, rapid breasting that was chest-related and/or have difficulty breathing which was chest-related during the 2 weeks before the survey |
Fever | Mothers were asked if the infant had been ill with a fever at any time during the last 2 weeks |