The present study was aimed to investigate the maternal role strain related to different feeding methods. The subjects were feeding mothers of infants aged 4-l2months, who visited the public health centers located in Kwangju for their children’s vaccination. The data were collected from August 2 to 20, 1999 arid analyzed with SAS program for mean, standard deviation, x2-test, and GLM. The results were as follows
1. The breast-feeding, artificial feeding, and mixed feeding rated 38.1%, 42.9%, and 19.0% respectively.
2. The mothers were satisfied with their feeding methods with significantly different rates among the group 82.5% in breast--feeding, 48,9% in artificial feeding, and 70.0% in mixed feeding(p<0.05).
3. The problem scores perceived in the early postpartum period related to the feeding method were significantly lower in breast-feeding than in the other two groups( p<0.05). The problematic item that were significantly noted in the artificial feeding group were insufficient breast milk, physical fatigue, care for breast and nipple, and infant sucking (p<0.05).
4. The scores for maternal role strain did not significantly differ among the three groups. except for the item of postpartal appearance which was significantly lower in breast-feeding group than in the other two groups (p<0.05)
5. The maternal role strain score iii satisfied mothers was lower than that in the dissatisfied mothers(P<0.05).
These results suggest the development and application of practical nursing intervention is necessary to make the breast-feeding more successful and to enhance the quality of infant care. The interventions will reduce maternal role strain and help restore the self image of feeding mothers.
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