Prevalence of Exclusive and Extended Breastfeeding Among Rural Korean Women

Park, Tai Keun; Berlin, Paula

Abstract

This paper uses the survey findings of rural Korean women from 7 non-representative areas from May 1981 through August 1981 to know the prevalence of exclusive and extended breastfeeding, the frequency of breastfeeding and the pattern of artificial or supplementary feeding. All mothers started out breastfeeding, but many were immediately supplementing from the first month. Thirty percent of mothers who delivered in clinics started to supplement from the time of birth. Exclusive breastfeeding rates fall steeply with age, while general extended breastfeeding rates fall slowly. Feeding rate on demand was 25.5% and more frequent among women with no past experience of breast-feeding and 74.5% of feeding was done on schedule. The most common, reason given for not breastfeeding was "lack of or insufficient milk." About 10 percent of mothers were advised to give cow's milk supplements by health personnel. Monthly supplementary feeding rates were gradually increased until the 12th month, with steep curves from the second through the 7th months. Cumulative frequency of infants having commercial weaning food reaches 20% at ninth months.