A Survey of Breast-Feeding

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.