ABSTRACT
Among the three major components of a closed birth interval, waiting time to conception can somehow be managed with effective contraceptives while gestation is universally constant in its duration; the duration of postpartum amenorrhoea (PPA) varies in complex nature. The present study aimed to investigate the proximate factors influencing the duration of PPA. A community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in four valley districts of Manipur, India, during 1 August−31 December 2009, to analyze the differentials and determinants of duration of PPA, applying the survival analysis technique. In total, 1,225 ever-married women were selected through two-stage cluster sampling. The median duration of PPA was 5.7 months. Among the 11 explanatory variables of interest, only three variables—place of residence (p<0.05), infant mortality from preceding pregnancy (p<0.01), and duration of breastfeeding (p<0.01)— had a significant effect on the duration of PPA. The findings may be used as baseline information for future researchers and maternal health policy-makers.
ABSTRACT
Objective: The purpose of present study is to investigate the differentials and determinants of duration breastfeeding (BF) according to various socio-economic and demographic factors. Methods: A cross sectional study of 1225 ever-married women of reproductive age with at least one live birth was conducted in four valley districts of Manipur under cluster sampling scheme. Survival analysis technique has been adopted through SPSS vs 16. Results: The median duration of BF is found to be 20.37 months. Among the six explanatory variables of interest, only two factors - place of residence (relative risk (RR) =1.35) and employment status RR = 1.88) have highly significant effect (P<0.01) on BF and only two factors educational level (RR=1.02) and parity (RR = 0.83) are found to be statistically significant (P<0.05) on BF. Conclusion: The residence, education, employment status and parity have significant effects on the present duration of BF that is about 20 months which is below the India's national figure of 25 months and WHO recommended figure of 24 months.