J Korean Soc Matern Child Health.  2021 Jan;25(1):21-30. 10.21896/jksmch.2021.25.1.21.

Association between Breastfeeding and Parental Socioeconomic Status: Analysis of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2013–2017

• Byun JH
• Lee J
• Kim T

• KMID: 2512481
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21896/jksmch.2021.25.1.21

Abstract

Purpose
The importance of breastfeeding is well known. Socioeconomic status is one of the factors affecting breastfeeding. We investigated the association between breastfeeding and parental socioeconomic status to help design future breastfeeding promotion projects.
Methods
Data on demographic characteristics and socioeconomic status of parents of 1,220 children aged under 60months were extracted from the 2013–2017 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
Results
Some socioeconomic factors were associated with breastfeeding. Maternal factors such as education level (≥13 years: odds ratio [OR], 2.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21–6.42), middle high income level (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.18–4.49), no smoking status (OR, 3.07; 95% CI, 1.28–7.36) and body mass index (BMI) (<25 kg/m² : OR, 1.82; 95%CI, 1.12–2.95) were associated with breastfeeding (p<0.05). In addition, paternal factors such as age (30s: OR, 4.88; 95%CI, 1.82–13.04) and education level (≥13 years: OR, 7.94; 95% CI, 3.12–20.18) were associated with breastfeeding (p<0.05). After controlling for confounding factors, mother’s BMI, father’s age, and father’s educational level were found to be statistically significant predictors of breastfeeding.
Conclusion
This study demonstrated that some parental socioeconomic factors were associated with breastfeeding in Korea.

Keyword

Breastfeeding, Parental, Socioeconomic status, Korea

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