All issues > Volume 41(4); 1998

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1998;41(4):444-450. Published online April 15, 1998.

A Survey of Breast-Feeding

Yun Ah YA Sung,¹, Ju Yong JY Ahn¹, Hwa Yeon HY Lee¹, Jae Yoon JY Kim¹, Don Hee DH Ahn¹, Yong Jin YJ Hong²

¹Department of Pediatrics, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
²Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Inha University Hospital, Incheon, Korea

Correspondence Yun Ah YA Sung, ,Email: 1

Abstract

Purpose
: The superiority of breast-feeding to artificial feeding of infants aged 6 months or less has been well established. Due to the low rate of breast-feeding in our 1994 hospital survey we recommended and educated about breast-feeding to mothers who delivered in our hospital since January 1995. The purpose of this survey is to assess if the rate of breast-feeding increased in our hospital thereafter.
Methods
: One hundred twenty-five infant born at National Medical Center(NMC) after January 1. 1995 were surveyed through questionnaire about breast feeding at the well-baby clinic of pediatric department of NMC from May, 1996 to September, 1996.
Results
: The rate of breast-feeding was 26.4% in the nursery after birth, 40.8% at 1 month of age. Breast-feeding at 1 month of age was more common among children fed breast milk in the nursery after birth(P < 0.05), who initiated breast-feeding within 3 days of age(P< 0.05), born by vaginal delivery(P < 0.05) and positive maternal response to the guideline of breast-feeding(P < 0.05). The decision of breast-feeding was made mainly by the mother and 12.0% were by doctor or nurse' s suggestion. The main reason for giving up or failure of breast-feeding was “insufficient breast milk”.
Conclusion
: Compared with baseline data surveyed in our hospital in 1994, breast-feeding at the nursery increased from 1.3% to 26.4% and at 1 month of age, increased from 35.1% to 40.8%. So recommendation for breast-feeding at hospitals is very important and may play a role to increase the rate of breast-feeding.

Keywords :Breast Feeding, Survey, Education of breast feeding