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Allomaternal nursing in humans.

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    This summary is machine-generated.

    Allomaternal nursing, or wet nursing by non-mothers, is common across many cultures, frequently provided by grandmothers. Cultural beliefs and infant/mother factors influence its practice.

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    Area of Science:

    • Anthropology
    • Human Biology
    • Evolutionary Psychology

    Background:

    • Allomaternal nursing (AMN) in humans is understudied.
    • AMN varies significantly across human cultures, present in some hunter-gatherer groups but absent in others.
    • Understanding AMN provides insights into human reproductive strategies and social bonding.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the frequency, providers, and contexts of allomaternal nursing across diverse human cultures.
    • To identify factors influencing the practice of AMN.
    • To examine AMN within the framework of existing evolutionary hypotheses.

    Main Methods:

    • Focal follow observations of Aka and Efé infants.
    • Interviews with Aka mothers.
    • Analysis of ethnographic reports from hunter-gatherer societies.
    • Survey of the eHRAF (electronic Human Relations Area Files) database.

    Main Results:

    • Allomaternal nursing occurs in 93% of surveyed cultures with available data.
    • AMN is normative in a smaller subset of these cultures.
    • Biological kin, particularly grandmothers, are frequent providers of AMN.
    • Infant age, maternal condition, and cultural norms (e.g., colostrum taboos) significantly impact AMN frequency and nature.

    Conclusions:

    • Allomaternal nursing is a widespread, though not universally normative, human behavior.
    • Kin provisioning, especially by grandmothers, is a key aspect of AMN.
    • Cultural context and individual circumstances play crucial roles in shaping AMN practices.