The effect of breast-feeding on contraceptive use by women in rural Egypt with unplanned pregnancies less than 2 years after delivery: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Unrestricted Background: Although the recommended birth-to-pregnancy interval is at least 2 years, use of the lactational amenorrhea method of contraception is only recommended for up to 6 months post-partum. Therefore, breast-feeding women should initiate other methods of contraception after LAM expiration to prevent pregnancy during the recommended 2 year minimum birth-to-pregnancy interval.; Objectives: The primary objective was to determine whether the prevalence of contraceptive use differed after delivery between current and former breast-feeding women with an unplanned pregnancy within 2 years of childbirth.; Methods: Analysis was performed on data collected from parous pregnant women presenting for antenatal care at a clinic in Assiut, Egypt between June 2006 and June 2007. The questionnaire administered included questions about demographics, breastfeeding and contraceptive practices, and pregnancy intentions.; Results: Among 233 parous women with an unplanned pregnancy less than 2 years after delivery, the birth-to-pregnancy interval was 16.1±5.0 months for 190 women breastfeeding at conception and 17.6±5.9 months for 43 women that had weaned (p=0.09). Sixty-nine of the 190 (36.3%) women breast-feeding at conception had used a method of contraception after delivery, compared to 26 of the 43 (60.5%) women that had weaned (OR=0.37, 95% CI 0.19-0.74).; Conclusion: Breast-feeding women with an unplanned pregnancy were significantly less likely to have used any method of contraception after the expiration of LAM criteria than women that had weaned their infants. These results suggest that breast-feeding reduces contraceptive use among women in rural Egypt with unplanned pregnancies.