J Nurs Acad Soc.  1993 Sep;23(3):377-396.

A Survey Of Infant Feeding Practices In Seoul, 1991

• Kim HY
• Park YS

Abstract

A survey of infant practices was conducted to provide information on which to base planned nursing interventions. The subjects were a convenience sample of 168 mothers visiting out-patients departments of five general hospitals and one public health center in Seoul for immunizations or treatment for common colds for their infants from two to 12 months of age. Data collection was carried out from July 8th to September 30th, 1991 using a questionnaire of 84 questions, 31 on the type of feeding, 22 on sup plementary feeding and 21 on demographic information. The results are summarized as follows; 1) The type of feeding was primarily artificial feed ing (63.1%), followed by mixed feeding (22%) and breast feeding (14.9%). of the 59 mothers expecting during pregnancy to breast feed, 54. 2% changed artificial feeding and 30.5% went on to breast feed as they had expected. For mothers expecting to continue breast feeding over seven months, only one infant was being breast fed for over seven months. 2) For the 106 mothers using artificial feeding, 70. 8% hed attempted breast feeding, 64% of them for less than a month. Breast milk had been suppressed by for medication (38.7%): 34 9% had used no special means. 3) The major reasons for replacing breast feeding with artificial feeding were the infants' demand for more milk (47.2%) and insufficient supply of breast milk (49.3%). 4) Most mixed feeding was started at the age of one to three months (59.5%). Only 34.4% gave an artificial feeding after breast feeding, most (46%) alternated breast feeding with artificial feeding. On the whole, the motive for mixed feeding was the lack of breast milk (70.3%). 5) Many mothers (81.8%) were adding vitamin or mineral supplements to artificial milk and 51.5% were adding something to faciliate digestion. As for the method of sterilizing milk bottles and nipples, 56% had sterilized them together in boiling water fium the beginning, 27% were just washing the bottles after boiling only once initially when measuring artificial milk powder, 31. 5% of the mothers over filled the measuring spoon rather than to the level. 6) The mother's occupation was related to her way of feeding. Mothers at home full time did more breast feeding than mothers employed outside the home. (x2=5.72, p=<0.05). 7) Most mothers began supplementary food, from three to four months (48.8%): 11.2% began later than seven months. Supplementary food was given between milk feedings by 67.2% of the mothers: 19.2% gave it before a milk feeding. Some mothers (26.4%) made their own supplementary food: 19.2% used ready ade supplementary food products for convenience. Recommendations for nursing interventions in eluded: 1. Prenatal education about the advantages of breast feeding and breast care, and home visits after delivery for counselling related to breast feeding. Correct preparation of artificial feeding methods need to be taught in both pre and postnatal periods. In addition, specific education about supplementary feeding needed. 2. Further reserch is indicated about the perceived lack of supply of breast milk and about the effectiveness of nursing interventions to promote breast feeding.

MeSH Terms

Breast
Breast Feeding
Common Cold
Data Collection
Digestion
Education
Hospitals, General
House Calls
Humans
Immunization
Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
Infant*
Milk
Milk, Human
Mothers
Nipples
Nursing
Nutritional Support
Occupations
Outpatients
Pregnancy
Prenatal Education
Public Health
Surveys and Questionnaires
Seoul*
Vitamins
Water
Vitamins
Water