Infants Feeding Study In Yongkang,Zhejiang China

Background and ObjectiveBreast milk is the best food for infants. Breastfeeding has many unparalleled advantages on infants’growth and cognitive development as well as in the prevention of infectious diseases. The benefits of breastfeeding for infants, mothers and the society have been widely recognized. In recent years, the WHO and governments actively promote breastfeeding in worldwide, but the status of breastfeeding is dissatisfied. The actual rate of breastfeeding has decreased. It has been reported that in Chinese western region the rate of exclusive breastfeeding was76.8%, the rate of feeding time reaching more than four months was42.7%. Breastfeeding more than six months was only16.4%. The average duration of breastfeeding was3.1months. The "National Program of Development of Chinese Children (2011-2020)" proposed that the exclusive breastfeeding rate of infants within6months should be more than50%. How to improve the overall rate of breastfeeding is still our important topic. This research aimed to grasp the patterns of infant feeding methods in Yongkang. We can try to explore some methods to improve the rate of breastfeeding and change some bad feeding attitudes and behavior, which can promote maternal and child health. Methods667infants’mother within six months were choose randomly from9town (community) clinic in Yongkang during October to December2013, and investigated by self-designed questionnaire. Then, relevant information was collected and analyzed statistically.ResultWhen the baby was7days old,1months old,3months old, and4-6months old, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding was69.72%,77.66%,58.32%,27.97%; the rate of almost pure breastfeeding was1.95%,0.45%,0.60%,1.69%; the rate of partial breastfeeding was13.34%,14.39%,30.13%,47.46%; the rate of artificial feeding was14.99%,7.5%,10.94%,22.88%. The difference has statistically significant bychi square test. By non conditional Logistic regression analysis, mother’s age≤29years old was the protective factor of breastfeeding, the odd ratio(OR) was0.464, and95%confidence interval(CI) was0.315-0.682; the education below middle school was the protective factor of breastfeeding (OR=0.507,95%CI:0.305-0.842) compared to the education above college; part-time working was the protective factor of breastfeeding,(OR=0.517,95%CI:0.352-0.758); which the family income was more than6000RMB Yuan was the risk factor of breastfeeding(OR=1.923,95%CI:1.306-2.833). The number of4-6months infants was118when investigated. The number of4months infants was14. Among them, there were7infants had been added supplement food. The number of5months infants was53. Among them, there were16infants had been added supplement food. The number of6months infants was14. Among them, there were still11infants had not been added supplement food. ConclusionThe rate of breastfeeding for infants within six month has dropped sharply after birth. The mothers, whose age is≧30years old, had full-time job, the family income was more than6000yuan and had higher education were relatively lower for breastfeeding. The time of adding supplement food was irrational.