Definition & calculation
Numerator: Number of surveyed caregivers of children under 2 who correctly state at least two recommended IYCF practices (e.g. exclusive breastfeeding to 6 months, continued breastfeeding, timely and diverse complementary feeding)
Denominator: Total number of caregivers of children under 2 surveyed
Ask caregivers structured questions on recommended IYCF practices and calculate the proportion answering at least two correctly against a predefined scoring key.
Formula: (Numerator ÷ Denominator) × 100
Means of verification
KAP survey or post-counselling knowledge assessment against a predefined answer key
Interpretation
Direction: Higher is better
Typical reporting frequency: Baseline, midline and endline (or annual)
Guidance & common pitfalls
Knowledge is a precursor to, not a guarantee of, practice; pair with a practice indicator (e.g. MAD or exclusive breastfeeding) and apply a consistent scoring key to reduce enumerator subjectivity.
This library is a curated reference to adapt, aligned generically with recognised humanitarian frameworks (Sphere, cluster registries, IASC, CHS and others). It is not an official indicator registry — always use the exact indicator definitions your donor or cluster requires.
Related indicators
- Prevalence of global acute malnutrition (GAM) among children aged 6-59 months
- % of caregivers of children in the treatment programme who report satisfaction with the nutrition services received
- % of children aged 6-23 months who received a minimum acceptable diet (MAD) in the previous 24 hours
- % of children aged 6-59 months exited from moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) treatment who recovered