title: Factors affecting exclusive breast-feeding during the first 6 months in Korea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to identify the status of exclusive breast-feeding (EBF) in Korea and analyze the factors affecting exclusive breast-feeding at 6 months of age.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was based on data obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) IV, conducted from January 2007 to December 2008. A total of 404 mother-infant pairs were recruited. Exclusive breast-feeding was defined according to the criteria established by the World Health Organization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate of EBF was 60.9% for 1 month, 55.0% for 3 months, 35.4% for 6 months, 3.7% for 9 months and 1.2% for 12 months after birth. According to a stepwise logistic regression analysis, factors that were positively associated with EBF at 6 months were younger maternal age (odds ratio [OR] = 0.85, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.79-0.92), higher maternal education level (OR = 2.29, 95%CI: 1.17-4.46) and living in a capital city (OR = 2.64, 95%CI: 1.46-4.75).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rate of EBF in Korea is still suboptimal. To promote EBF, persistent and systematic education and campaigns for breast-feeding should be provided, particularly in vulnerable regions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Myo Jing
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yu-Mi
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yoo
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009749:Nutrition Surveys / Q000379:methods*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012189:Retrospective Studies