Patterns of breastfeeding among rural Moslem women in Israel: a descriptive account

This prospective study aims at elucidating the patterns of breastfeeding among rural Moslem women in Israel. A total of 429 parturient women living in four villages in the remote northern part and in the central, densely populated region of the country were interviewed about their breastfeeding behavior 3 and 6 months postpartum. Notwithstanding a generally strong adherence to traditional and religious norms that promote long duration of breastfeeding, only 43% persisted in suckling their infants for > or = 6 months. Bottle feeding (formula) was started by 46% of the cohort when the baby was less than 4 weeks old. The data indicate that the western lifestyle of the surrounding Jewish population has impacted on lactating rural Moslem women.