The Economic Benefits of Breastfeeding / 대한지역사회영양학회지
Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
;
: 863-871, 2002.
Article
in Korean
| WPRIM
| ID: wpr-7238
ABSTRACT
To compare the costs incurred by infant feeding between mothers who breastfed their infants and those who fed them infant formula, a questionnaire survey was carried out to 136 mothers living in Seoul, Cheongju and Chungju who breastfed and 199 mothers who formula-fed their infants. The cost of formula-feeding was estimated based on the expenditures for formula and feeding apparatus, and the time needed to wash bottles and prepare formula. The cost of breastfeeding was estimated based on the expenditures for food for the additional nutritional intake of these mothers. The mean cost of formula-feeding was 1,870,125won during the first year of the baby's life. The food cost for the additional nutritional intake of the breastfeeding mothers was 203,004 won per year. The extra medical cost for respiratory illnesses in the formula-fed group compared to the breastfed group was 62,920 won because the formula-fed infants required medical attention for respiratory illnesses more often than the breast-fed infants. Therefore, breastfeeding could save 1,730,041 won during the first year of an infant's life. We may have underestimated the cost savings from breastfeeding because we did not take into account the potentially decreased costs of fertility control and the health benefits for mothers, as well as the decreased usage of water and gas. Analyses showed that breastfeeding is not only nutritionally advantageous, but also economically advantageous for families and society.
Full text:
Available
Index:
WPRIM (Western Pacific)
Main subject:
Breast Feeding
/
Surveys and Questionnaires
/
Cost Savings
/
Health Expenditures
/
Contraception
/
Infant Formula
/
Seoul
/
Insurance Benefits
/
Mothers
Type of study:
Health economic evaluation
Limits:
Humans
/
Infant
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
Korean
Journal:
Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
Year:
2002
Type:
Article
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