or they are only breastfed (1%) or, in addition to breast milk, they only receive water, other
milk or other liquid (8%).
Table 15: Type of breastfeeding by child's age
Child’s age (in months)
0 to 3
0 to 5
6 to 9
Not breastfed
Exclusively breastfed
Breastfed and water only
Breastfed and non-milk
liquids
Breastfed and other milk
Breastfed and
complementary foods
Total
Source: 2011-2012 DCAT
3.4
27.4
45.8
0.5
5.2
20.5
34.4
0.7
10.0
12.9
100
6.8
1.0
5.6
0.3
12 to
15
24.4
0.1
1.3
0.4
12 to
23
56.7
0.0
0.6
0.2
20 to
23
83.0
0.0
0.1
0.0
10.1
29.1
1.4
85.0
0.1
73.8
0.0
42.5
0.0
16.9
100
100
100
100
100
The use of baby bottle is not recommended for young children because it is associated with
an increased risk of diseases, particularly diarrheal diseases. At 0-1 months, 12% of children
were bottle-fed.
The average duration of breastfeeding is estimated at 15.7 months. Regarding exclusive
breastfeeding, the average duration is estimated at only 1.9 months, three times less than the
recommended 6 months.
Prevalence of anaemia in children
Although anaemia can be caused by bleeding, infections, genetic problems or chronic
disease, it is usually due to inadequate intake of iron in the diet. It is for this reason that iron
supplementation is recommended in the EPI activities.
Table 16: Prevalence of anaemia
Anaemia according to haemoglobin level
Anaemia
Mild
Moderate
< 110 g/dl
10,0 to 10,9 g/dl 7,0 to
9,9 g/dl
All
66.7
32.3
33.5
Urban
67. 9
32.4
35.0
Rural
65.1
32.1
31.3
Source: 2011-2012 DCAT
Severe
< 110 g/dl
1.0
0.5
1.7
According to the classification of the EDS-II, 66.7% of children aged 6-59 months are
anaemic: 32.3% are in the mild form, 33.5% in the moderate form and 1% in the severe form.
Although the proportions of anaemic children are high regardless of the socio-demographic
and economic characteristic, there are variations according to the age (from 87% to 9-11
months to 54% among children aged 48-59 months), the place of residence (up to 75% at
Pointe Noire to a minimum of 59% in Lékoumou and the Pool) and the level of welfare of
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