since these proportions are significantly higher than those that are expected in a healthy wellnourished population (2.27% and 0.14% respectively). Excess weight affects, on average, 1%
of children under five. The highest rate recorded in babies under 6 months is 3%.
For the ration weight for height, 6% of children under five are wasted or suffering from
acute malnutrition: 4% in the moderate form and 2% in the severe form. This proportion of
wasted children, which can be described as moderate, is nevertheless significantly higher than
what one expects to find in the reference population (2.27% less than two standard deviations
and 0.13% to less than three standard deviations).
The comparison with the results of the DCAT-2005 (which were 26% for stunting, 6.5% for
wasting and 14.4% for underweight) seems to show an improvement in the situation. This
should be examined with some reservation because the data were analyzed with different
methods (American standard for DCAT-I and WHO standard for DCAT-II).
5.3.3.6. Breastfeeding and complementary feeding
The guidelines of the national nutrition policy advocate for exclusive breastfeeding during the
baby’s first six months. Education and awareness campaigns are undertaken to this end in the
CSI and hospitals. The planned increase of the centres and sensitisation of mothers, which
will take place through the PDSS, are intended to contribute to the expansion of this practice.
Table 14: Profile of the initial breastfeeding
Newborns
Breastfed percentage including those
who were fed before breastfeeding
Breastfeeding percentage for the hour
after birth
Breastfeeding percentage for the day
after birth
Percentage of those who were fed with
colostrums
Source: 2011-2012 DCAT
All
94,9
36,1
23,8
Urban
92,4
31,5
23,4
Rural
98,8
42,8
24,6
69,8
65,8
76,3
74,7
73,4
76,9
According to the DCAT-II, almost all (95%) last-born children in the last two years have
been breastfed. The majority of children were breastfed shortly after birth: 70% within 24
hours after birth and 24% within one hour after birth. However, although breastfeeding is a
widespread practice, we find that in 36% of cases, breastfed children received food before
breastfeeding
The practice of exclusive breastfeeding remains low: only ine child less than six months in
five (21% against 19% in 2005) is exclusively breastfed, as recommended by international
guidelines.
From the age of six months, breastfeeding alone is not enough and it is recommended to
provide the young child with adequate complementary foods rich in nutrients while
continuing to breastfeed until the age two years or more. However if, from the age of six
months, 86% of children receive complementary foods while continuing to breastfeed, 14%
of children are not fed according to the recommendations: either they are not breastfed (5 %)
71