Korean J Pediatr Infect Dis.  2009 Dec;16(2):191-198.

A Survey for Understanding of Breastfeeding among Mothers with Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. jh00mn@catholic.ac.kr
  • 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 3Division of Vaccine Preventable Disease and National Immunization Program, Center for Disease Prevention, Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

PURPOSE
Breastfeeding should be recommended for infants born to mothers with chronic hepatitis B Infection after postexposure prophylaxis. However, high proportion of these mothers are reluctant to engage in breastfeeding in Korea. This survey was taken to identify the cause of that reluctance. Method:Questionnaires were given to mothers with chronic hepatitis B infection who were registered at the 'Hepatitis B Perinatal Transmission Prevention Program' operated by Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention. They visited a community health center for blood sample collection and signed a consent paper. The questionnaires were sent to the mothers. Result:Among 839 mailed questionnaires, 114 were returned marked 'address unknown'. The overall reply rate was 17% (n=125). Among responders, 52% (n=62) were breastfeeding and 48% (n=60) were formula-feeding. The most influential factor for breastfeeding was the mother's own decision (75%) and the obstetrician's recommendation (17%). For formula- feeding mothers, their decisions were influenced by obstetricians (57%), and by their own thinking (28%). The relationship between breastfeeding and perinatal prophylaxis failure was recognized as 45% 'related' and 50% 'not-related'. A total of 91% of breastfeeding mothers replied that they will breast-feed again. Among formula-feeding mothers, 78% answered that they will breast-feed if they were known that 'there is no direct relationship between breastfeeding and perinatal prophylaxis failure'.
Conclusion
Despite the fact that there is no direct relationship between breastfeeding and perinatal prophylaxis failure, many were reluctant to breast-feed. Healthcare professionals have influence over the mothers for decision making. It will be necessary to educate healthcare personnel so that they can make a conceptual change as well as to promote the fact to the general public.

Keyword

Breastfeeding; Chronic hepatitis B infection; Perinal Prophylaxis failure; Healthcare personnel

MeSH Terms

Breast Feeding
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
Community Health Centers
Decision Making
Delivery of Health Care
Hepatitis B, Chronic
Hepatitis, Chronic
Humans
Infant
Korea
Mothers
Postal Service
Surveys and Questionnaires
Thinking
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