A STUDY OF BREAST-FEEDING AND THE RETURN OF MENSES IN HOIMA DISTRICT,UGANDA

The effect of breastfeeding on reestablishment of ovulation and fertil ity and on birth spacing are now well known. A study was conducted on lactational amenorrhoea (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 fo od by Ugandan women does not replace or substitute for breastfeeding, a study was designed to determine if LAM was effective irrespective of supplementation of infant's diet. One hundred and fifty four mother/c hild pairs were entered into the study and 134 women completed the six th month of the study. At the end of the period, eighty four women (62 .7%) were amenorrhoeic of whom only 33 (39.3%) were exclusively breast feeding and no woman 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 t he breastfeeding women (62.7%). It is expected that if health workers increase the intensity of breastfeeding support as well as the women's knowledge and motivation to use LAM for family planning, this would c ontribute to children's health as well as to birth spacing that is one of the major factors related to infant deaths. According to data from this study, the return of menses is irrespective of whether supplemen ts have been introduced and their frequency.