Abstract

This study was carried out using a questionnaire in order to investigate factors affecting the status and the method of infant feeding in Incheon area. The subjects were 126 monthers of infants ranging from 3 months to 18 months. The results are : the percentages of those feeding colostrum and breast milk has decreased in comparison with the previous results. But the percentage of breast-feeding gets higher in a case where colostrum or breast milk is first fed after delivery. Also frequency and birth order of child plays a part : the more frequently monthers try to feed breast milk in the earliest period of feeding, the more they keep breast-feeding, and the latter-born(the second-born or the third born) children get more chances to be breast-fed than the first-born. Another noticeable factor is what babies feed on during hospitalization. if they get fed more breast milk than infant formula while they are in hospital, they tend to keep feeding on breast milk after they come back home. Breast-feeding group have good knowledge and information abut the importance of breast-feeding. The data shows that they believe the superiority of breast milk.

• Keywords: infant feeding; breast mild; infant formula;