Post-partum events and fertility control in Kinshasa Zaire.

Contraception prevalence surveys from Sub-Saharan Africa typically show low rates of method use. The current study of 1 zone in Kinshasa Zaire provides a more detailed view of fertility control in an urban population by examining the relative duration of breast feeding amenorrhea and sexual abstinence during the post-partum period. This contraceptive home interview survey was regional not national and covered 4 cities and 2 rural areas. The sample studied were women of reproductive age (15-49 years). While motivations to prevent pregnancy remain high until the youngest is over 24 months old the average duration of abstinence is only 4 months. Thus it has little effect on fertility since most women are amenorrheic at the time they resume relations. 60% of the women with a child under 25 months used rhythm withdrawal or no method at all. Of 13 variables studied 5 (economic status age of youngest living child age of respondent number of living children and abstinence-amenorrhea-breastfeeding status) were associated with use of modern contraceptives. (Authors modified)