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Breastfeeding in Korea : Problems and Solutions

Article information

J Korean Med Assoc. 2003;46(10):937-944
Publication date (electronic) : 2003 October 31
doi : https://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2003.46.10.937
Keun Lee, M.D.
Department of Pediatrics, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Tongdaemun Hospital, Korea. leekeun@yahoo.com

Abstract

Recently there has been a continuous decline of breast-feeding rate in Korea, from 95% in 1960 to below 20% in 2002. This low rate of breast-feeding is beginning to create various medical problems in young children, e. g. frequent URI, otitis media, gastroenteritis, obesity etc. Even though it is the mother who chooses the method of infant nutrition, it is, ultimately, the responsibility of physician who is in charge of children's health. Physician, therefore, should have necessary information and knowledge of breast milk and breast-feeding to help mothers to breast-feed their babies. Acknowledging that the breast milk is the best nutrition for infants, the hospitals should join the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) of Unicef and WHO to promote and protect the breast-feeding and the advertisements of infant formula in mass media should be banned by law, as presented at the 'International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes' by WHO, 1981.

Keywords: Breastmilk; Breast-feeding; The code; BFHI; Physician

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Table 1

Table 1