A study of breastfeeding and the return of menses in Hoima District, Uganda.

The effect of breastfeeding on reestablishment of ovulation and fertility and on birth spacing are now well known. A study was conducted on lactational amenorrhoea (LAM) at 180 days in Hoima District, Uganda in order to understand whether and how LAM could be applied in fertility control and birth spacing. Since the introduction of supplementary food by Ugandan women does not replace or substitute for breastfeeding, a study was designed to determine if LAM was effective irrespective of supplementation of infant's diet. One hundred and fifty four mother/child pairs were entered into the study and 134 women completed the sixth month of the study. At the end of the period, eighty four women (62.7%) were amenorrhoeic of whom only 33 (39.3%) were exclusively breastfeeding and no woman had dropped out of the study because of pregnancy or the use of other family planning methods other than LAM. The study confirmed that LAM could be applicable in Uganda to the majority of the breastfeeding women (62.7%). It is expected that if health workers increase the intensity of breastfeeding support as well as the women's knowledge and motivation to use LAM for family planning, this would contribute to children's health as well as to birth spacing that is one of the major factors related to infant deaths. According to data from this study, the return of menses is irrespective of whether supplements have been introduced and their frequency.

Diagnostic management of epigastric pain in Uganda

180 patients who attended the out patient of Hoima Hospital (Uganda) complaining of epigastric pain were studied in order to verify the cause of it and to assess the most effective diagnostic iter. All the patients underwent the following examinations : stool examination for parasites; upper digestive tract endoscopy; ultra sound scan of liver; spleen; pancreas and kidneys. The results suggest that being the main causes of epigastric pain in Uganda intestinal parasitosis (21 per cent); gastro-enteric upper tract lesions with endoscopic signs of disease and functional dyspepsia the best approach of assessment of epigastric pain is first of all to rule out the presence of parasites in the stool