Nutrition Knowledge of and Attitudes toward Breast-Feeding and Food Habits in Relation to the Expected Infant Feeding Method among Male and Female College Students

남녀 대학생의 예상 수유방법에 따른 모유영양에 관한 지식과 태도 및 식습관의 비교

In order to provide the basic data on an education program for successful breast-feeding, the nutrition knowledge of and attitudes toward breast-feeding and the factors associated with infant feeding decision among male and female college students were investigated. The majority of students had correct knowledge of the maternal-infant bonding through breast-feeding and knew more about baby-centered benefits than about mother-centered benefits of breast-feeding. Students' attitudes toward breast-feeding were not so positive as expected, and male students had more positive attitudes toward breast-feeding than female students had. 54.8% of students answered to practice breast-feeding longer than 3 months. Nutrition knowledge scores and attitude scores were significantly higher in the breast-feeding decision group than in the formula-feeding decision group. The students residing in a rural community decided breast-feeding significantly more than the students residing in an urban community. It was concluded that nutrition knowledge about the breast-feeding played a significant role in deciding infant feeding method. In order to increase breast-feeding decision rates among college students, the education program may need to focus on understanding of correct nutrition knowledge about the benefits of breast-feeding. Also it would be important to have male students participated in education program.