Breastfeeding in the population under six months of age increased from 65.9% to 69.3% between the years 2022 and 2023

During the year 2023, 69.3% of the population under six month of age received breastfeeding, increasing in 3.4 percentage points compared to the year 2022 (69.3%). This was informed by the National Institute of Statistics and informatics (INEI) by presenting the main results of the Demographic and Family Health Survey (ENDES) 2023.

Among the departments that showed a greater preference in this type of feed outstood: Junín, Ucayali, Puno, Huancavelica, Ancash and Cajamarca (from 80.3% to 85.2%). On the other hand, Tumbes and Ica (of 46.8% and 48.5%, respectively), showed lower percentages in favor of breastfeeding.

During 2022, 32.0% of children of 6 to 35 months of age received iron supplement observing a decreasing trend (1.4 percentage points) compared to the last year (33.4%). The dosage most frequently used to attend this disease was through the use of drops (13.6%).

During 2023, the population under 12 months of age that received their vaccines according to their age reached 77.5%, which reflected an increase of 7.9 percentage points, compared to the year 2022 (69.6%), and the highest percentage compared to the set of data.

During 2023, the chronic malnutrition affected 11.5% of children under five years of age in the country, of children under five years of age in the country, a figure lower in 0.2 percentage point than the registered in 2022 (11.7%). The departments that had more incidence of chronic malnutrition in children under five years old are: Huancavelica (26.1%), Loreto (21.7%) and Amazonas (19.9%).

The percentage of the population under five years old that had Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI), in the two previous weeks to the Survey, was 14.9% in 2023. The highest percentages of ARI were registered in the departments of Loreto (25.3%) and Ancash (18.5%); meanwhile the departments that registered in the departments of Ucayali (5.9%) and Tacna (7.7%).

At national level, during 2023, the incidence of diarrhea in children under five years old, in the two previous weeks to the Survey, was of 12.8%, increasing in 1.1 percentage points, compared to 2022 (11.7%). The departments of Loreto (22.2%) and Junín (17.0%) showed the highest percentages of children with diarrhea; meanwhile, in lower proportion the departments of Tacna (7.5%) and Ica (9.2%).

During 2023, 48.9% 9 to 12 months of age children had an appropriate interaction with their mother; a higher percentage to the registered in 2022 (43.9%). In addition, 91.6% of girls and boys mothers’ of this age group stated that had responded immediately to their daughter’s or son’s cry.

More than two-fifths of girls and boys of 9 to 36 months of age (43.6%), reached an effective verbal communication at comprehensive and expressive level. It is worth to mention that the verbal interaction of girls and boys with other adults favored the development of an appropriate verbal communication.

In addition, it was informed that almost the half of the population of 19 to 36 months of age participate frequently in the conversation between adults (42.7%). Nevertheless, this percentage was lower in 6.4 percentage points compared to the year 2022 (49.1%).

According to the results of ENDES 2023, 60.3% of girls and boys of 12 to 18 months of age walk by their own initiative, without the need to stop at each step to achieve balance. Likewise, 36.1% of girls and boys of 24 to 71 months of age regulate their emotions and behavior in frustration situations and setting of limits.