Duration of lactational amenorrhoea: a hospital based survey in district Abbottabad.
BACKGROUND
The study was carried out to investigate the duration of lactational amenorrhoea in women of district Abbottabad. The objective of this survey was to determine the duration of lactational amenorrhoea in female population of district Abbottabad, NWFP, Pakistan.


METHODS
A survey was conducted at Ayub Teaching Hospital from June to August 2006 by selecting admitted females and their attendants at random and subjecting them to questionnaires and interviews to collect relevant data. Majority of the sampled females belonged to different districts of Hazara division.


RESULTS
Fifty nine (59) mothers of parity 1-5 were included in the study. The frequency of breast feeding ranged from 60.0% to 100% (mean 66.1%) in different pregnancies; bottle feeding frequencies ranged from 10-12.5% (mean 6.8%); frequencies of combined breast and bottle feeding ranged from 25-30% (mean 27.1%). The mean duration of lactational amenorrhoea for different pregnancies ranged from 6.0 +/- 0.0 weeks to 22.6 +/- 25.1 weeks (overall mean 15.8 +/- 15.2 weeks). Weaning times ranged from 2 to 12 months, with the mean weaning time ranging from 4.8 +/- 1.5 to 5.1 +/- 1.8 months (overall mean 4.8 +/- 1.1 months).


CONCLUSIONS
Maternal hormonal cycles appear to be more involved in regulating the post partum amenorrhea observed in lactating mothers.
Subhani
Aqeel
A
Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad. aqeel_subhani@hotmail.com
Gill
Gultasib Khan
GK
Islam
Ansa
A
Maryam
Malik
M
Garzedi
Anjum Ali
AA
D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D010154:Pakistan; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors