Since the data in literature strongly correlate such transformation with a decline in breast-feeding, it was considered desirable to investigate the extent and duration of this practice in Saudi Arabia. Most of the locations in these region could be considered semi-rural, being 3 to 70 kilometres from the closest city. They were grouped by age in 12-month increments from 0 to 72 months. As a rule, in Saudi Arabia babies are seldom breast fed at birth. First they are given a few sips of water and then ghee until the mother lactates on the second or third day.
Ghee is thought to lubricate the infants gut and provide initial nourishment.
The percentage of mothers who breast-fed for two years was 62 per cent. New pregnancy was the major reason in all regions. Insufficient breast milk, the child's refusal of the breast, and the child's ability to eat food were the other important reasons. Availability of bottle milk was not cited as a major reason for stopping. The tendency to use the bottle was highest in the central region and lowest in the eastern region, which are examples of urban and rural areas respectively.