SURVEY ON BREAST-FEEDING (PART II)

Abstract

The first survey for the object of promotion and practice of breast feeding is now followed by the second survey concerning grade of infant growth, mothers' attitude on breast feeding and their reflections on their past ways of infant care and feeding. The subjects were infants, aged 2 years to 2 years and 5 months on May 1, 1977, and their mothers, totalling 466. The chief findings were as follows : 1) The mean birth weight was highest in breast feeding group, followed by the mixed and bottle feeding groups in the descending order. When the body weight was assessed at 2 years to 2 years and 5 months by the percentile method, the bottle-fed group tended to be somewhat inferior than the others both in males and females, but there were no marked differences. As for the morbidity rate as a whole or as classified by illness, there was no difference among the three groups of feeding.2) Early cessation of breast feeding was observed for 97.4% of the mixed feeding group and 84. 6% of the bottle feeding group. The primary reason was poor mammary secretion. Also the mother's prejudiced view that breast-feeding had not contributed to body weight gain was also the reason why breast feeding was supplemented by bottle feeding. It was considered necessary from these facts to give mothers correct informations about the determination of mammary secretion, the evaluation of growth and development.3) Those who had known the breast feeding promotion campaign, accounted for 85.0% of the total subjects of the present survey 86.5% for the bottle feeding group, 85.6% for the breast feeding group, and 83.1% for the mixed feeing group. There was thus no marked difference between different feeding groups. Those who practiced the breast feeding numbered 208 (44.6%) inclusive of 30 subjects who had not known the campaign. Thus the knowledge of the campaign did not result in the practice of breast feeding.4) There was difference in the intensity of decision for breast feeding between those who had known the campaign in the health center and mothers' class and those who had learned it through mass communications such as newspaper and television and other routes. The former constituted only 29.2% of the total subjects.It is evident from the above findings that puplic health nurcing of communities and health centers, and guidance by physicians of medical instituted and of midwives play important roles in the promotion of breast feeding. Moreover are indispensable for this purpose, the understadings and cooperations common to all those who are in some way or other, concerned with maternal and child health. Furthermore, the health policy for mother and infant must be establish by taking into consideration also social aspects such as women's working.