Knowledge on lactational amenorrhoea and contraception in Kocaeli, Turkey.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the knowledge of women about lactational amenorrhoea and contraceptive properties of breastfeeding. DESIGN: A prospective, randomised descriptive study. SETTING: Kocaeli University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. SUBJECTS OR PARTICIPANTS: Nine hundred and twenty-two women in their reproductive ages. INTERVENTION A questionnaire was filled by doctors or nurses during face to face interview. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: There was significantly less knowledge for the importance of frequency and duration of suckling (p < 0.0001). The education increases the knowledge of lactational amenorrhoea as a interruptus contraceptive method. RESULTS: More than fifty-three per cent of women were using one of the modern contraceptive methods, 23.86% were using natural methods and 22.78% not using any family planning method. Intrauterine devices (30.15%), coitus interuptus (21.69%) and condom (16.48%) were the most common contraceptive methods. Nearly fifty-two per cent of women were not aware of the contraceptive property of breastfeeding, 25.68% of women knew lactation had a protective effect from pregnancy, 48.16%, did not know the importance of frequency and duration of suckling on fertility reducing effect of lactation. CONCLUSION: The level of knowledge on lactational amenorrhoea and frequency of suckling was significantly low in our study, especially in the illiterate group. Since efficacy of natural family planning depends on the compliance of women, education of women about lactation is very important. Family planning programmes should be focussed on breastfeeding and type of breastfeeding practices used, especially where there are no contraceptive alternatives.

ABSTRACT

PIP This prospective, randomized, descriptive study examined the contraceptive choices and knowledge of women about lactational amenorrhea and contraceptive properties of breast-feeding in Kocaeli, India. A total of 922 women of reproductive age were surveyed, and a Chi-square test was used for data analysis. Results showed that 53.36% of the women used modern contraceptive methods, 23.86% preferred natural methods, and 22.78% were not using fertility control methods. The most commonly used contraceptive methods included IUDs (30.15%), coitus interruptus (21.69%), and condoms (16.48%). Almost 52% of the women were not aware of the contraceptive effect of breast-feeding; 25.68% knew that lactation had a contraceptive effect. Lactation was accepted as a contraceptive method by 48.16% of the women, while 51.8% of the women did not accept this type of method. Overall, the level of knowledge on lactational amenorrhea and suckling frequency was significantly low, particularly among illiterate women. Family planning programs should focus on breast-feeding as a fertility control method, especially when no contraceptive alternatives are available.