Breast-feeding and fertility. Part I: Lactational amenorrhoea.
A cross-sectional survey describing the current fertility performance and breast-feeding of 1134 urban mothers, who gave birth within the last 2 years was carried out. Mothers were recruited from MCH centers in Alexandria governorate. The results indicated that the mean time elapsed since birth before return of menstruation was (5.1 +/- 4.3) months for breast-feeding mothers and (2.5 +/- 2.3) months for non-breast feeding mothers. At four-month of postpartum period, 50% of the mothers were still amenorrhoeic and at six-month, 31% of the mothers were still amenorrhoeic. A total confirmed pregnancies was 8.5% and 3% of new pregnancies occurred during amenorrhoea and while women were breast-feeding. Use of contraceptives was practiced by 57% of mothers, with 65% of all users starting as early as the second month.
el Sahn
F
F
Nutrition Department, Alexandria University.
Darwish
O
O
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D049590:Postpartum Period