Korean Journal of Community Nutrition (대한지역사회영양학회지)

The Korean Society of Community Nutrition (대한지역사회영양학회)
권호 표지

The Economic Benefits of Breastfeeding

모유수유의 경제적 효과

  • Published : 2002.12.01
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

To compare the costs incurred by infant feeding between mothers who breastfed their infants and those who fed them infant formula, a questionnaire survey was carried out to 136 mothers living in Seoul, Cheongju and Chungju who breastfed and 199 mothers who formula-fed their infants. The cost of formula-feeding was estimated based on the expenditures for formula and feeding apparatus, and the time needed to wash bottles and prepare formula. The cost of breastfeeding was estimated based on the expenditures for food for the additional nutritional intake of these mothers. The mean cost of formula-feeding was ￦ 1,870,125 during the first year of the baby＇s life. The food cost for the additional nutritional intake of the breastfeeding mothers was ￦ 203.004 per year. The extra medical cost for respiratory illnesses in the formula-fed group compared to the breastfed group was W 62,920 because the formula-fed infants required medical attention for respiratory illnesses more often than the breast-fed infants. Therefore, breastfeeding could save ￦ 1,730,041 during the first year of an infant＇s life. We may have underestimated the cost savings from breastfeeding because we did not take into account the potentially decreased costs of fertility control and the health benefits for mothers. as well as the decreased usage of water and gas. Analyses showed that breastfeeding is not only nutritionally advantageous, but also economically advantageous for families and society.

Keywords

References

  1. 고무석 . 김강화 . 김경애 . 신말식 . 오승호 . 임현숙 . 전덕영 . 홍윤호(1998) : 식품과 영양. 효일문화사
  2. 김기남 . 현태선 . 강남미 . 이영혁 . 임은영 (2000) : 한국여성의 모유수유 증진을 위한 전략 개발. 연구보고서, 보건복지부
  3. 소비자를 연구하는 시민의 모임 . 유니세프한국위원회 (1998) : 분유대신 엄마젖. Breastfeeding Campaign 98, 1998
  4. 이 근 (1998) : 엄마젖먹이기의 경제성과 국제 활동 지역사회영양학회지 3(3): 496-499
  5. Abn HS, Park SH, Park YS (1997): Concentrations of major minerals and trace elements in sera of the breast-fed and formula-fed infants. Korean J community Nutrition 2(2) : 133-140
  6. American Public Health Association (1966): Economy in nutrition and feeding of infants. Am J Public Health 56: 1756-1784
  7. Ball T, Wright AL (1999): Health care costs of formula-feeding in the first year of life. Pediatrics 103: 870-876
  8. Beaudry M, Dufour R, Marcoux S (1995): Relation between infant feeding and infections during the first six months of life. J Pediatr 126: 191-197
  9. Butte NF, Garza C, Stuff J, Smith EO, Nichols BL (1984): Effect of maternal diet and body composition on lactational performance. Am J Clin Nutr 39: 296-306
  10. Choi K, Mo S, Choi H, Koo JO (1999): A longitudinal study of the iron and zinc intakes of Korean infants from 1 to 3 months-breast-fed vs formula-fed infants. Korean J community Nutrition 4(1) : 30-36
  11. Cunningham AS, Jelliffe DB, Jelliffe EFP (1991): Breast-feeding and health in the 1980s: a global epidemiologic review. J Pediatr 118: 659-666
  12. Gonzalez-Cossio T, Habicht JP, Delgado H, Rasmussen KM (1991): Food supplementation during lactation increases infant milk intake and the proporion of exclusive breast-feeding. FASEB J 5: A917
  13. Jelliffe DB, Jelliffe FP (1977): The volume and composition of human milk in poorly nourished communities. Am J Clin Nutr 31: 492-496
  14. Kim KN, Hyun T, Kang NM (2002): A survey on the feeding paraetices of women for the development of a breastfeeding education program -Breastfeeding knowledge and breastfeeding rates-. Korean J community Nutrition 7 (3): 345-353
  15. Koo JO, Choi K (2000): A longitudinal study of calcium and phosphorus intakes of Korean infants from 1 to 3 months in breast-fed vs formula-fed infants. Korean J community Nutrition 5 (2S) : 273-279
  16. Lamm E, Delaney J, Dwyer JT (1977): Economy in the feeding of infants. Pediatr Clin North Am 24: 71-84
  17. Lawrence RA (1989): Breastingfeeding: A guide for the medical profession. 4th ed. St Louis, Mosby Co.
  18. Lee JA, Huh YR, Lee Jl, Lim HS (1994): Composition and yield of Korean breast milk and maternal Intakes of foods and nutrients Korean J Nutrtion 27(8) : 795-
  19. Montgomery BL, Splett PL (1997): Economic benefit of breast-feeding infants enrolled in WIC. J Am Diet Assoc 96: 379-385
  20. Naing KM, Oo TT (1987): Effect of dietary supplementation on lactation performance of undernourished Burmese mothers. Food Nutr Bull 9: 59-61
  21. Rasmussen KM (1992): The influence of nutrition and lactation. Annu Rev Nutr 12: 103-117
  22. Rosenthal MS (1998): The breastfeeding sourcebook. 2nd ed., Lowell house, Los Angeles
  23. Sears M, Sears W (2000): The breastfeeding book. Little, Brown and Company, Boston
  24. Smith JP (1999): Human milk supply in Australia. Food Policy 24: 71-91
  25. Tuttle CR, Dewey KG (1996): Potential cost savings for Medical, AFDS, Food Stamps, and WIC programs associated with increasing breast-feeding among low-income Hmong women in california. J Am Diet Assoc 96: 885-890
  26. Worthington-Roberts BS, William SR (1989): Nutrition in Pregnancy and Lactation. Mosby. St. louis