Breast Feeding Problems in a Myanmar Community

To identify the maternal and infant problems associated with breast feeding, a random samply of 200 mothers (from Latha, Thaketa, South Okkalapa and Insein) with infants one year of age or less were interviewed. The highest percentage with maternal and infant problems were found among the following groups.(1) Maternal age 31-35 years, (2) College-educated group, (3) Government employees, (4) Ks. 1001-1500 income per head, (5) Parity 4 and 7 groups, (6) Those who had practised rigid feeding with previous infant, (7) Those who had maternal problems in the previous lactation, (8) Those who received antenatal care at hospital and private clinics, (9) Those with <=5 antenatal visits, (10) Those without advice on breast-feeding and diet, (11) Those who had received breast preparation, (12) Those delivered in Private clinics, (13) Those delivered instrumentally, (14) Those who had not received immediate mother-child contact, (15) Those who practised suckling after 30 mins. after delivery. 23.5 percent of mmothers interviewed had maternal problems such as cracked nipples, mastitis, breast abscess, low milk production, maternal illness and retracted nipple. 4.5 percent had various infant problems, twin delivery, neonatal jaundice, diarrhoea, pneumonia, oral thrush, acute respiratory infection and cyanosis.

Contraceptive prevalence survey in rural Hlegu

A study on the prevalence of contraceptive use in Myanmar females (Phsae II Rural) was undertaken in 26 villages of Hlegu Township. Two thousand five hundred ever married females of age 15 to 49 years were interviewed using the same questionnaire as in the urban phase. It was found that 84.24

of these women possessed knowledge regarding contraceptives. Oral contraception was the most recognised knowledgeable type, followed by the injectable. Sterilization is the third recognised method, The total ever users were 27.96

and current users are 10

. Oral pills were used by 22.50

, injectable by 9.53

and sterilization by 2.9

of knowledgeable persons. The main reason for not using contraceptives is fearfullness of the side effects (32.96

). Other causes were found to be desirous of more children, lack of knowledge and reluctance to interfere with nature. The most preferred method for future use was female sterilization (23.32

).

Contraceptive prevalence survey and urban Mandalay

A study of K A P (knowledge, attitude and practice) on contraceptive in Myanmar females was undertaken in Mandaly. Two thousand five hundred ever married females between the age of 15 and 49 years were interviewed. It was found that 97.8

of these women possessed knowledge regarding contraceptives. Oral contraception was the most knowledgeable recognised method, followed by the injectable type. Sterilization and vasectomy were the third and fourth recongnised methods. The total ever users were 48.92

and 20.88

were current users. Oral pills were used by 28.08

, injectables by 20.53

and sterilization by 5.27

of knowledgeable persons. The reasons for not using the fertility regulation methods were fear of side effects, desiring to have more children, ignorance regarding contraception, not wanting to interfere with nature, financial problems and religious beliefs.