Breast-feeding pattern and onset of menstruation among Yoruba mothers of South-west Nigeria.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the breast-feeding practices and duration of lactational amenorrhoea among women within the first year of delivery in a Nigerian population.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study carried out between January 2005 and April 2006, among mothers within one year of delivery, who were attending the Infant Welfare Clinic at Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, Nigeria. Using a semi-structured questionnaire, mothers were interviewed to obtain information regarding their socio-demographic characteristics, parity, breast-feeding habits, use of contraception and onset of menstruation after delivery. Information obtained was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 11.


RESULTS
All 268 (100%) mothers interviewed breast-fed their babies, 261 (97.4%) of which for at least 6 months. Most (71.6%) suckled exclusively for 6 months and more; only 10 (3.7%) never carried out exclusive breast-feeding. Age, parity and educational level did not affect the duration of exclusive breast-feeding. Lactational amenorrhoea lasted 3 months or more in 229 (85.5%) of the mothers. Of the 174 who exclusively breast-fed for 6 months, 109 (62.6%) remained amenorrhoeic during that time and, hence, met the criteria for use of LAM contraception.


CONCLUSIONS
Exclusive breast-feeding among nursing mothers is highly prevalent among Yoruba mothers of South-west Nigeria. Since lactational amenorrhoea lasts 6 months in about two-thirds of the women nursing for that period of time, there is a great potential for the application of LAM for contraception.
Kuti
Oluwafemi
O
Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Perinatology, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. okuti_victory@yahoo.com
Adeyemi
Adebayo B
AB
Owolabi
Alexander T
AT
D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008598:Menstruation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors