Breastfeeding Rate in Below 6 Months Infants during Recent 6-year in Korea Based on Childcare Database

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Breastfeeding is ideal diet for young infant and worldwidely recommended by many guidelines of authoritative centers. We investigated breastfeeding rate of young infant during recent 6-year in Korea and analyzed the tendency of it. METHODS: The subjectives were young infants whose mothers registered in childcare database of Mail dairies Co., Ltd. We surveyed exclusive breast feeding rate, mixed feeding rate, exclusive artificial milk feeding rate and ever breastfed rate at 1st week after birth and every months of age from the first to sixth months and assessed the changes of them during recent 6-year (2007-2012) in Korea. RESULTS: During the recent 6-year (2007-2012), the means of exclusive breastfeeding rates from the birth to 6th month in age were 34% for 1 week, 38% for 1 month, 42% for 2 months, 39% for 3 months, 33% for 4 months, 27% for 5 months and 25% for 6 months. The exclusive breastfeeding rate had been increased at 1 week, 1 month, 4 to 6 months aged infants during the recent 6-year. The mixed feeding rate had not been changed significantly and the exclusive artificial milk feeding rate had been decreased. Also, ever breastfed rate had been increased at 1 week to 2 months aged infants and had not been changed significantly at 4 to 6 months aged infants. CONCLUSION: The young infant's breastfeeding rate in Korea had been increased in recent 6-year from 2007 to 2012 and should be further increased.