Return to Sexual Activity and Modern Family Planning Use in the Extended Postpartum Period: An Analysis of Findings from Seventeen Countries
), William Winfrey(2), Catharine McKaig(3),
(1)
(2)
(3)
Corresponding Author
Abstract
Unintended pregnancies can lead to poor maternal and child health outcomes. Family planning use during the first year postpartum has the potential to significantly reduce at least some of these unintended pregnancies. This paper examines the relationship of menses return, breastfeeding status, and postpartum duration on return to sexual activity and use of modern family planning among postpartum women. This paper presents results from a secondary data analysis of Demographic and Health Surveys from 17 countries. For postpartum women, the return of menses, breastfeeding status, and postpartum duration are significantly associated with return to sexual activity in at least 10 out of the 17 countries but not consistently associated with family planning use. Only menses return had a significant association with use of modern family planning in the majority of countries. These findings point to the importance of education about pregnancy risk prior to menses return (Afr J Reprod Health 2010; 14[4]: 75-82).
Résumé
Retour à l’activité sexuelle et l’emploi de la planification familiale dans le postpartum prolongé : une analyse des résultats recueillis de 17 pays. Les grossesses non voulues peuvent mener aux graves conséquences sur la santé maternelles et infantiles. L’emploi de la planification familiale au cours de la première année du postpartum a le potentiel de réduire sensiblement au moins certaines de ces grossesses non voulues. Cet article étudie le rapport entre le retour de la menstruation, l’état de l’allaitement et la durée du postpartum le moment du retour à l’activité sexuelle et l’emploi de la planification familiale moderne chez les femmes du postpartum. Cet article présente les résultats à partir d’une analyse des données secondaires des Enquêtes sur la Démographie et la santé de 17 pays. Pour les femmes du postpartum, le retour é la menstruation, l’état de l’allaitement et la durée du postpartum sont sensiblement liés au retour à l’activité sexuelle dans au moins 10 sur 17 pays, mais pas constamment liés à l’emploi de la planification familiale. Seul le retour à la menstruation était sensiblement lié à l’emploi de la planification familiale moderne dans la majorité des pays. Ces résultats montrent l’importance de l’éducation en ce qui concerne les risques avant le retour à la menstruation (Afr J Reprod Health 2010; 14[4]: 75-82).
Keywords: Postpartum, Family planning, Breastfeeding, Menses, Sexual activity
References
Guttmacher Institute. In brief: facts on induced abortion worldwide. Washington DC: Guttmacher Institute, 2009. Available from: http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs /fb_IAW.pdf . Accessed on June 18, 2009.
Ross JA, Winfrey WL. Contraceptive use, intention to use, and unmet need during the extended postpartum period. Int Fam Plan Perspect 2001;27(1):20-27.
Adeyemi AB, Ijadunola KT, Orji EO, Kuti O, Alabi MM. The unmet need for contraception among Nigerian women in the first year postpartum. Eur J Contracep Repr 2005;10(4):229-234.
Cleland J, Bernstein S, Ezeh A, Faundes A, Glasier A, Innis J. Family planning: the unfinished agenda. Lancet 2006;368(9549):1810-1817.
Labbok MH, Hight-Laukaran V, Peterson AE, Fletcher V, von Hertzen, Van Look PF. Multicenter study of the lactational amenorrhea method (LAM): efficacy, duration, and implication for clinical application. Contraception 1997;55(6):327-36.
Family Health International. Breastfeeding as a family planning method. Lancet 1988;2(8621):1204-05.
Kennedy KI, Rivera R, McNeilly AS. Consensus statement on the use of breastfeeding as a family planning method. Contraception 1989;39(5):477-96.
Diaz S, Rodriguez G, Peralta O, et al. Lactational amenorrhea and the recovery of ovulation and fertility in fully nursing Chilean women. Contraception 1988;38(1):53-67.
Kennedy K, Trussel J. Postpartum contraception and lactation. In: Hatcher RA, Trussell J, Nelson AL, Cates W Jr, Stewart FH, Kowal D, eds. Contraceptive technology, 18th ed. New York: Ardent Media Inc., 2004.
Desgrees-du-Lou A, Brou H. Resumption of sexual relations following childbirth: norms, practices and reproductive health issues in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. Reprod Health Matters 2005;13(25):155-163.
Benefo KD. The determinants of the duration of postpartum sexual abstinence in West Africa: a multilevel analysis. Demography 1995;32(2):139-157.
Cleland JG, Ali MM, Capo-Chichi V. Postpartum sexual abstinence in West Africa: implications for AIDS control and family planning programs. AIDS 1999;13(1):125131.
Becker S, Ahmed S. Dynamics of contraceptive use and breastfeeding during the post-partum period in Peru and Indonesia. Population Stud 2001;55:165-179.
Rutstein Shea O, Johnson K. The DHS wealth index. DHS Comparative Reports 2004; 6.
Article Metrics
Abstract View
: 712 times
Download : 0 times
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
