Attitudes of high school girls in Israel and the United States toward breast feeding

Abstract

Newborns are breast fed more frequently in Israel than in the United States (92% vs. 57%). Differences in the attitudes of the two countries might suggest interventions to increase breast feeding. We studied the breast-feeding attitudes of high school girls in Israel and the United States using a 21-item questionnaire. Israeli girls were significantly more positive about breast feeding than U.S. girls. Israeli girls answered 13 items positively more frequently than U.S. girls, while American girls responded positively more frequently than Israeli girls for only two items. Israeli girls were more likely to plan on breast feeding (68.2% vs. 42.4%). We speculate that interventions designed to improve the breast-feeding attitudes of young people may increase the prevalence of breast feeding. © 1985 the Society for Adolescent Medicine.