Actual use of the lactational amenorrhoea method.
OBJECTIVE
The lactational amenorrhoea method (LAM) is an effective contraceptive option in developing countries. Post-partum, of the women who accept to apply LAM, many never do. Our aim was to determine the actual use of LAM.


METHODS
A group of 326 post-partum women who accepted LAM use were recruited. After 6 months, they were asked if they actually had applied the method or not. In a logistic regression analysis, nine socio-demographic and clinical variables were studied as predictors of actual LAM use. An alpha level was set at 0.05.


RESULTS
Overall, of the 326 women, only 61 (18.7%) actually applied LAM. The mean duration of LAM use was 4.3 +/- 0.2 months. The main reason for not applying LAM was that women thought the method was ineffective (66.0%). The variable time of menses resumption emerged as a predictor of LAM use (p = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Despite post-partum acceptance, most women did not actually apply LAM. In our setting as well as in other developing countries, regular contacts with a health care provider could improve LAM use.
Romero-Gutiérrez
G
G
Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Leon, Guanajuato, México. gustavo.romerog@imss.gob.mx
Vaca-Ortiz
N
N
Ponce-Ponce de León
A L
AL
López-Martínez
M Guadalupe
MG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008598:Menstruation; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors