Jewish and Celtic attitudes to breast feeding compared.
OBJECTIVE
To examine reasons for the high rate of breast feeding among one UK ethnic group (Jews) and the low rate among Celtic (Scots and Irish) populations.


METHODS
A manual literature search of ethnic variation in breast feeding rates in the UK was conducted over several years. A computerised search yielded 31 additional references. Seven of these were added.


METHODS
Positive Jewish attitudes to breast feeding were underpinned by scriptural references, and rates of breast feeding were found to be especially high among Orthodox samples in the UK and Israel. Low Scottish and Irish rates appear to reflect prudishness, fashion, and possibly poor health. Reasons for falling rates among these populations in the twentieth century were not clear.


CONCLUSIONS
Health education needs to address cultural attitudes throughout society if effective change is to be introduced, and the overall rate of breast feeding is to be increased.
Ineichen
B
B
Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK.
Pierce
M
M
Lawrenson
R
R
D001294:Attitude to Health; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D007557:Israel; D007585:Jews / Q000523:psychology*; D012606:Scotland