POSTPARTUM AMENORRHEA IN RURAL EASTERN UTTAR-PRADESH, INDIA

This paper calculates the mean duration of the postpartum amenorrhoea (PPA) and examines its demographic, and socioeconomic correlates in ru ral north India, using data collected through 'retrospective' (last bu t one child) as well as 'current status' (last child) reporting of the duration of PPA. The mean duration of PPA was higher in the current s tatus than in the retrospective data; the difference being statistical ly significant. However, for the same mothers who gave PPA information in both the data sets, the difference in mean duration of PPA was not statistically significant. The correlates were identical in both the data sets. The current status data were more complete in terms of the coverage, and perhaps less distorted by reporting errors caused by rec all lapse. A positive relationship of the mean duration of PPA was fou nd with longer breast-feeding, higher parity and age of mother at the birth of the child, and the survival status of the child. An inverse r elationship was found with higher education of a woman, higher educati on of her husband and higher socioeconomic status of her household, th ese variables possibly acting as proxies for women's better nutritiona l status.