Factors Associated with Knowledge of Lactational Amenorrhea as a Contraceptive Method

Objectives: To access the factors associated with knowledge of lactational amenorrhea as a contraceptive method among postpartum women dwelling in the Rajanpur district of Pakistan.

Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 135 postpartum mothers residing in the Rajanpur District of Pakistan. Data were collected using a multistage purposive sampling technique from women who had given birth in the previous six months, were amenorrheic, exclusively breastfed their children, and had lived in the district for the previous two years. Data on sociodemographic profiles and a maternal health-related parameter was collected using a self-administered questionnaire.

Results: A total of 135 postpartum mothers of age (30.6 ± 5.89 years) were selected after the screening of 900 reproductive age group women in the district. Our study participants were recorded as illiterate (60.7%), lived in the extended family (65.9%), had a parity ≤ 3 (59.2%), and had a spontaneous vaginal delivery (70.4%). A total of 55.6% of mothers were exclusively breastfeeding, received family planning counseling (44.4%), and had no information about amenorrhea (80%). Chi-square analysis showed mother education, family income, lactational information, mode of delivery, and family planning counseling as significant factors (p < 0.005) in adopting lactational amenorrhea as a contraceptive method.

Conclusion: Women were lacking knowledge of LAM as an effective contraceptive method. Illiteracy, low socioeconomic status, duration of the marriage, parity, mode of delivery, and site of delivery are the important factors to address the LAM knowledge gap of mothers.