Operational definitions

Early initiation of breastfeeding: initiation of breast milk within one hour after delivery

Exclusive breastfeeding: receiving only breast milk, except drops or syrup consisting of vitamins, minerals, or medicines up to six months.

Timely initiation of complementary feeding: introducing solid or semi-solid food at 6–8 months

Minimum dietary diversity: the proportion of children 6–23 months of age who consume four or more out of seven standard groups. Food groups include grains, roots, and tubers; legumes and nuts; dairy products; flesh foods, eggs; vitamin A-rich fruits and vegetables; other fruits and vegetables [15].

Minimum meal frequency: children age 6–23 months who receive solid, semi-solid, or soft foods the minimum number (6–8 months, 2 times; 9–23 months, 3 times for breastfed children and 6–23 months, 4 times for non-breastfed children) [15].

Continued breastfeeding: Proportion of children 6–23 months of age who received breast milk

Bottle feeding: Proportion of children 6–23 months of age who are fed with a bottle.

Appropriate IYCF practice: was measured from seven WHO indicators (i.e., early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding, no bottle feeding, minimum meal frequency, minimum dietary diversity, timely introduction of complementary foods, and continued breastfeeding in children 6–23 months). If a child fulfilled at least mean or four of the seven criteria, it was classified as appropriate IYCF practice [11, 14].

Knowledge about IYCF: was measured from seven knowledge questions about child feeding. Based on the summation score, a score above 50% was considered as having sufficient knowledge about IYCF