title: Breast-feeding and lactational amenorrhea in the United Arab Emirates.
abstract: This study was designed to investigate the relation of breast-feeding and weaning practices with the duration of lactational amenorrhea among breast-feeding mothers in the United Arab Emirates. A total of 593 mothers were interviewed in the Maternal and Child Health Centers in three areas: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Al Ain. The total mean duration of lactational amenorrhea in this study was 6.1 months, and there was a direct relation with the length of exclusive breast-feeding. The duration of postpartum amenorrhea was the longest in Al Ain (7.2 months), as compared with Dubai (6.9 months) and Abu Dhabi (4.3 months). The age of the infant when formula milk and solid supplements were introduced was significantly related to the duration of lactational amenorrhea. This study confirms the results of other studies concerning the effectiveness of the lactational amenorrhea method as a natural method of contraception for the first 6 months postpartum, especially for mothers who breast-feed exclusively and more frequently and who delay the introduction of food supplements.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Department, Eastern Medical Region, Health Authority, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. zjaziri@emirates.net.ae
authors.forename: Hadia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Radwan
authors.forename: Abdulrahman O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Mussaiger
authors.forename: Fatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hachem
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000208:ethnology*; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D001903:Bottle Feeding / Q000208:ethnology; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003267:Contraception / Q000379:methods; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003906:Developing Countries; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014479:United Arab Emirates / Q000453:epidemiology; D014886:Weaning / Q000208:ethnology