However, currently fewer than 40% of infants under six months of age are exclusively breastfed worldwide.

Despite the recommendation that babies be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months, less than 40% of infants below this age are exclusively breastfed worldwide.

Since only 38 percent of children worldwide under 6 months are exclusively breastfed, education programs could have large impacts on children malnutrition rates.

Babies who are breastfed exclusively for the first six months, without any formula, have fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and bouts of diarrhea.

Except for one 10-month-old infant, no infants were exclusively breastfed after 6 months of age.

National and international guidelines recommend that all infants be breastfed exclusively for the first six months of life.

Exclusively breastfed infants - phase two can last more than one month.

In 2000, 54% of women breastfed exclusively for the first four months of life.

Many of the younger infants were still exclusively breastfed at the time of interview.

The discrepancy between actual exclusive breastfeeding behaviour and the perception of how long the infant should be exclusively breastfed is striking.