J Korean Acad Child Health Nurs.  2008 Jan;14(1):71-78.

Growth Profiles of Breastfed Infants Participating the "Year 2005 Healthy Breastfed Baby Contest."

• Jang GJ
• Kim MY
• Suh SR
• Shin YH
• Chung KA
• Lee IH
• Kim SH

Abstract

Despite the 12-year KNA breastfeeding campaign, the declining trend in the national breastfeeding rate has not been significantly reversed. PURPOSE: This investigation focused on mothers' decision to breastfeed and the physical growth profiles of breastfed infants.
METHODS
Participants were 146 mothers and their 5-7 months old infants participating the "Year 2005 Healthy Breastfed Baby Contest." Data were collected through interviews with mothers on their breastfeeding practice and assessment of infant growth profiles by the investigators.
RESULTS
Concerning breastfeeding practice, 76% of mothers decided to breastfeed even before their pregnancy and 92% intended to breastfeed a year or as long as baby wants and 52% planned to breastfeed solely by self-motivation from reading. The growth profiles of breastfed infants showed that for WAZ (weight-for-age Z-scores), LAZ (length-for-age Z-scores) and HCAZ (head circumference-for-age Z-scores) the breastfed infants were above the WHO percentiles for their age.
CONCLUSION
Considering that the mothers planned to breastfeed even before pregnancy and that the physical growth of the breastfed infants was above WHO standards, the authors recommend that in future campaigns the focus should be on families who plan to have a baby.

Keyword

Breast-feeding; Infants; Growth

MeSH Terms

Breast Feeding
Humans
Infant
Mothers
Pregnancy
Child Health