• Perinatology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2017

Objective: Human milk bank is known as best alternative option for sick infants. However, only two human milk banks (HMBs) are working in Korea. In the present study, we evaluated the awareness on the HMB in female health care provider to find out the issues that would help facilitating HMB establishment in Korea. Methods: The survey questionnaire was developed by a team composed with neonatologists, obstetricians, nurses, nutritionists, and health care specialists. The survey was performed for female health care workers in Soon Chun Hyang Cheonan Hospital between March and June in 2016. Eighty-eight of 110 questionnaires were collected and the results were analyzed. Results: Most of subjects were found to have correct knowledge on the breast milk feeding. However, only 49% of subjects had awareness of the presence of HMB. Unfortunately, less than half of them could get information about HMB by official way including mass media. In addition, 76% of subjects were found not to want to use HMB. Most important reason was found as a concern on the safety of donor milk including life style of donors, infection controls, and possible nutritional loss of banked milk. Conclusion: The purpose and function of HMB was not widely educated and it seems to be one of most important reasons why women have negative concept about HMB in Korea. Thus, further study is warranted with more numbers of subjects after active public education about the HMB.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.488-494
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• 2010

Purpose : A human milk bank collects, processes, eliminates, and stores breast milk from donors and provides breast milk to those in need. The authors hereby present the experiences and the objective lessons obtained through operating a nationwide human milk bank over a period of 2 years. Methods : The characteristics of the donors and the recipients and the amounts of breast milk donated, processed, and received at the East-West Neo Medical Center Human Milk Bank were investigated from August 2007 to August 2009. Results : The donor pool consisted of 131 first-time donors and 39 repeat donors who made 341 and 127 donations, respectively. Seventy-nine percent of the donors resided in the Seoul-Kyunggi area, and 60% of the donors were in their 30s. Most information and motivation came from the Internet (66%) or television (14%). A total of 2,736 L of breast milk was collected, and 1,979 L were processed. The cumulative number of recipients was 160 preterm or full-term infants and 21 adults, each group receiving the breast milk 337 and 41 times, respectively. In total, infants received 1,663 L and adults received 179 L. Conclusion : Through the present study, the role and importance of a human milk bank in collecting, pasteurizing, and storing surplus breast milk in through sanitary, medically proven methods and providing this breast milk to recipients could be appreciated and reevaluated. The authors believe that a national support system is necessary to expand this practice to a nationwide scale.

• Perinatology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.47-58
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• 2017

Objective: We evaluated the Korean mothers' level of awareness of human milk bank (HMB) in order to find out the issues in establishing HMB in Korea. These mothers had infants younger than 18 months old to find out the issues that would help establishment of HMB in Korea. Methods: The survey questionnaire was developed by a team composed by nurses, neonatologists, obstetricians, nutritionists, health care specialists and faculty members. The internet survey was performed by sending emails to mothers who are registered to M family members and have children younger than 18 months. In total, 864 questionnaire were gathered from 114,469 answers and the results were analyzed. Results: Fifty two point eight percent of the respondents had awareness of HMB. 79.4% of subjects agreed with the necessity of HMB. On the basis of multivariate logistic regression analysis, we found that the numbers of children, awareness of HMB, the concern on the HMB in Korea, and the expected problems in establishing HMB in Korea were significant factors when evaluating the necessity of HMB in Korea. The common factors associated with positive thinking of potential users, donors and recipients were the awareness of HMB, and the experience of feeding own breast milk to other's babies. Conclusion: More than half of Korean women were found to agree with the necessity of HMB in Korea, even though they had concern on infection controls and management of HMB and the purpose and function of HMB was not widely educated. The establishment of HMB in Korea would be effective with public education and considering their demands.