Table 3 Multiple mean Comparison of WHO Breastfeeding practices indices, between the four study areas

1. Early initiation of breastfeeding.

Cumbaya

296

36.2

0.48

Galapagos

246

62.5

0.48

Morona U

277

75.4^a

0.43

Morona R

449

74.7^a

0.43

2. Age-appropriate breastfeeding (0–59 months)*

Cumbaya

301

47.8

0.50

Galapagos

247

62.0

0.49

Morona U

475

20.1^a

0.40

Morona R

834

17.6^a

0.38

3. Exclusive breastfeeding to 6 months

Cumbaya

81

51.9^ab

0.50

Galapagos

51

55.9^ac

0.50

Morona U

52

56.7^bcd

0.50

Morona R

96

84.0^d

0.37

4. Continued breastfeeding, 12–15 months

Cumbaya

43

76.7^ab

0.43

Galapagos

56

82.4^ac

0.38

Morona U

32

56.5^cd

0.50

Morona R

63

52.4^d

0.50

5. Infants ever breastfed.

Cumbaya

301

98.4^a

0.13

Galapagos

247

99.5^a

0.07

Morona U

309

93.0^b

0.26

Morona R

495

90.8^b

0.29

6. Continued breastfeeding at 2 years.

Cumbaya

29

24.1^abc

0.44

Galapagos

38

41.1^ade

0.49

Morona U

27

13.8^bdf

0.35

Morona R

56

33.8^cef

0.47

7. Infants < 6 months predominantly breastfed.

Cumbaya

80

61.3^ab

0.49

Galapagos

51

65.5^acd

0.48

Morona U

52

69.7^bce

0.46

Morona R

96

84.0^de

0.37

8. Infants who received solid, semi-solid, or soft foods

Cumbaya

37

97.3^a

0.16

Galapagos

37

92.0^a

0.27

Morona U

29

70.6

0.46

Morona R

44

43.2

0.50

9. Infants 6–23 months with minimum dietary diversity.

Cumbaya

162

88.3^a

0.32

Galapagos

196

89.6^a

0.31

Morona U

154

57.2

0.50

Morona R

255

32.4

0.47

10. Infants 6–23 months with minimum meal frequency.

Cumbaya

162

87.7^a

0.33

Galapagos

196

90.5^a

0.29

Morona U

148

52.1

0.50

Morona R

250

20.6

0.40

11. Infants 6–23 months with minimum acceptable diet.

Cumbaya

162

72.2^a

0.45

Galapagos

196

74.5^a

0.44

Morona U

149

23.9

0.43

Morona R

252

8.8

0.28

12. Bottle feeding. Proportion of children 0–23 months of age who are fed with a bottle.

Cumbaya

242

46.7^a

0.50

Galapagos

246

40.8^a

0.49

Morona U

211

28.0

0.45

Morona R

361

12.8

0.33

12. Milk feeding frequency for non-breastfed. Proportion of non-breastfed children 6–23 months of age who receive at least 2 milk feedings.

Cumbaya

59

79.7

0.41

Galapagos

63

79.5^a

0.40

Morona U

–

–

–

Morona R

–

–

–