Knowledge of lactational amenorrhea as a contraceptive method among mothers of infants aged 0-6 months in a district, Eastern Turkey

Authors

  • Edibe Pirincci Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Firat, 23 119, Elazig, Turkey
  • Rabia Taşdemir Bigadic Director of the State Hospital 10440, Balikesir, Turkey
  • Ayse Ferdane Oguzoncul Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Firat, 23 119, Elazig, Turkey

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20161601

Keywords:

Breastfeeding, Lactational amenorrhea, Family planning, Turkey

Abstract

Background: Lactation is a natural defense against pregnancy. As long as a mother is nursing, she is delaying the return of fertility. This study aimed at evaluating the state of knowledge, among mothers of infants aged 0-6 months, on lactational amenorrhea as a contraceptive method, as well as these women's breastfeeding habits.

Methods: In this descriptive study 646 mothers were included. A questionnaire was used to interview one-on-one the mothers of infants aged 0-6 months, who had consented to such an interview. The data were evaluated by using the SPSS program; percentage, mean, and chi-square analyses were used.

Results: To the question: Does lactating protect you from pregnancy? 82.5% answered in the negative. While 28.6% of the subjects who had received family planning counseling postpartum had answered "yes" to this question, in subjects who had not received such counseling this proportion was 14.9% (p=0.001). Those who had first done so within half an hour from delivery made up 81.4% of the sample. The proportion of those who had not yet resumed menstruations was 62.3%. All of the mothers who had not resumed menstruating were still nursing; 99.2% were breastfeeding also at night.

Conclusions: A rural area of Turkey, the use of LAM as a contraceptive method remains low, even though the breastfeeding ratio is high.

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Published

2017-01-05

How to Cite

Pirincci, E., Taşdemir, R., & Oguzoncul, A. F. (2017). Knowledge of lactational amenorrhea as a contraceptive method among mothers of infants aged 0-6 months in a district, Eastern Turkey. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 3(6), 1363–1370. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20161601

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Original Research Articles