A Study on feeding Practices and Growth Status of Infants and the Correlation of Mothers' Perceptions of Breast Feeding with Infant Feeding Methods in the Pocheon Area

Choi, Kyungsuk

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the feeding practices, growth status and correlation with maternal perceptions of breast feeding and lactation with infuts' feeding methods in the Pocheon area. The subjects were 103 infants ranging from 3 to 21 postpartum months and their mothers. The results obtained were as follows : In this survey, 36.9% of the infants were breast-feeding, while 53.4% of them were bottle-feeding, and 9.7% of them were mixed-feeding. The reason for bottle-feeding was due mainly to the lack of breast-milk secretion. Z-scores of weight-f3r-age and height-for-age were similar to Korean standards, but malnutrition and overnutrition were also noticed by kaup index and WLI. The average maternal perceptions of breast-feeding and lactation was 3.7 out of 10 possible points, the breast-feeding group scored 4.7, and formula-feeding and mixed-feeding group scored 3.0. That of BF group was higher than FF+MF groups and was positively correlated with growth status. Therefore to ensure proper growth of infants and to promote breast-feeding, efforts should be given to community nutritional services including nutrition education for the importance of colostrum and breast-milk, practical breast-feeding methods, and nutritional management during pregnancy. Also nutrition education for mothers will be continued to 1-3 postpartum months to promote successful breast-feeding.