Human milk is recognized as the optimal diet for newborn and infants. The ?? of breast-feeding has increased in many countries, but in Korea is still very low. We ??veyed the present status of infant feeding methods and the reason for the failure of b...
Human milk is recognized as the optimal diet for newborn and infants. The ?? of breast-feeding has increased in many countries, but in Korea is still very low. We ??veyed the present status of infant feeding methods and the reason for the failure of breast-feeding.
The survey was performed by a special questionarie on 1345 cases of mothers who visited both the well baby clinic of Chosun University Hospital and local clinics in Kwangju from May to June. 1993.
The results obtained are as follows:
1) The rates of breast-feeding, mixed-feeding, formula-feeding were 27.4%, 21.6%, 51.0% respectively.
2) The rate of breast-feeding was higher in babies of mothers of older age. lower eduacation level, and normal vaginal delivery.
3) Mothers recognized the significance of breast-feeding(95%) , but the rate of breast-feeding was very low.
4) Knowledge about breast-feeding was mainly from books(29.7%), parents(27%), TV and radio(20.3%), and only(9.7%) marginally from medical doctor.
5) The cause of failure of breast-feeding was the mother's concern of insufficient breast milk(48.6%), breast engorgement and pain of the nipples(16.3%), diarrhea(10.3%).
We strongly recommend that pediatricans take a more forceful role in increasing the rate of breast-feeding. Since. as our study showed, the obsticales to breast-feeding are based in misinformation, the pediatrician through education and reinforcement is in a strong position to bring about change.