This
retrospective study examined duration of
breast-
feeding and concurrent
contraceptive use among 5,648 Peruvian
women. Data were gathered during 1986-1992 as part of the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS). The
women gave
birth to 7,951
infants, 95% of whom were
breastfed; 44% of the
mothers used
contraception while
breastfeeding. Consistent with the
literature,
mothers using oral
contraception breastfed for significantly less
time than those using other
methods. Unexpectedly,
mothers using
periodic abstinence or withdrawal
breastfed longer (15.5 and 15.3 months) than those using other
methods or non-contraceptors. Among
mothers changing
contraceptive methods while
breastfeeding the same
child, those changing to abstinence and withdrawal
breastfed longest (18 months). The relationship of duration of
breast-
feeding with
contraceptive use remained after controlling for other predictors of duration of
breast-
feeding. Additional data are needed to explain this phenomenon in
Peru and perhaps elsewhere.