BREAST-FEEDING AND WEANING PRACTICES IN SAUDI-ARABIA

A National Child Health Survey was conducted during 1987 for which a s tratified multi-stage sampling was done. Out of the 8482 mothers inter viewed 6131 had at least one live birth 5 years or less before the sur vey. Eighty-two per cent of the currently breastfed children, were les s than 6 months of age, but only 55 per cent of the infants up to 1 mo nth of age were breastfed without supplementation. The mean interval b etween supplementation and weaning for all age groups of mothers was 7 .7 months. The predominant causes of weaning were child reaching suita ble age and mother not having enough milk. This study establishes base line information about feeding practice on a nationwide basis in Saud i Arabia.