While this has been an established fact in the literature, it is particularly relevant in Jordan, given that during the 10-year period before the survey more than 30 per cent of all children were breastfed for less than the six months recommended by the WHO (see table 3). A recent report on child and maternal nutrition paints an even bleaker picture of breastfeeding behaviour in Jordan (UNICEF, 2009): According to the latest data only 22 per cent of children were exclusively breastfed during the first six months of their lives, well below the average for the developing world, which was estimated at 37 per cent in 2008. Against this backdrop, government agencies should support measures to facilitate breastfeeding, in addition to further increasing their efforts to advertise its benefits.