A Study of Breastfeeding and the Return of Menses in Hoima District, Uganda

The effect of breast-feeding on reestablishment of ovulation and fertility and on birth spacing are now well known. A study was conducted on lactational amenorrhea (LAM) at 180 days in Hoima District Uganda in order to understand whether and how LAM could be applied in fertility control and birth spacing. Since the introduction of supplementary food by Ugandan women does not replace or substitute for breast-feeding a study was designed to determine if LAM was effective irrespective of supplementation of infants diet. 154 mother/child pairs were entered into the study and 134 women completed the sixth month of the study. At the end of the period 84 women (62.7%) were amenorrhoeic of whom only 33 (39.3%) were exclusively breast-feeding and no women had dropped out of the study because of pregnancy or the use of other family planning methods other than LAM. The study confirmed that LAM could be applicable in Uganda to the majority of the breast-feeding women (62.7%). It is expected that if health workers increase the intensity of breast-feeding support as well as the womens knowledge and motivation to use LAM for family planning this would contribute to childrens health as well as to birth spacing which is one of the major factors related to infant deaths. According to data from this study the return of menses is independent of whether supplements have been introduced and their frequency. (authors)