الفهرس 
Introduction
What is Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM)?Only 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 95 |  |  |
| | | from | 95 | | |
Abstract
Lactational amenorrhea method (LAM) is a highly effective for preventing subsequent pregnancy by 98% during the first six months postpartum. The efficiency and effectiveness of LAM are affected by its correct use and the three criteria which must be adhered to (70). This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess knowledge, attitude and practice of lactational amenorrhea as a method of contraception among women attending El-Walidia Health Care Center, Assiut City, Assiut Governorate from the first day of November 2017 until the end of April 2018. The study included 400 married women having at least one living child less than five years old. Data were collected using structured questionnaire through personal interview of the study population. A verbal informed consent was taken from women who agreed to participate in the study. More than one third of married women (34.5%) were in the age group from 25 to under 30 years of age, while 17.5% were 35 years of age or older. About two thirds of the sample is from rural areas (65.3%) and 89.8% of married women were Muslim. Most of the women (86.5%) lived in independent (nuclear) families. More than a third of married women (35.7%) have received a secondary education, 24.5% had basic education while 17.8% were illiterate. On the other hand, 44% of their husbands had secondary education, 21.5% received basic education and 15.8% were illiterate. The majority of studied women (83.8%) were housewives while 16.2% were employees. About one third of their husbands (32.3%) were unskilled workers, 25% were skilled workers and 31% were employees. Of the participants in the study, 63 women (15.8%) were pregnant during use family planning methods, less than half of them used breastfeeding as a contraceptive method. The most of studied women were aware that breastfeeding can be a method of family planning.
Large percentage of studied women knew only one criterion of lactational amenorrhea method. On the other hand, less than ten percent mentioned the three criteria of LAM perfectly. Moreover, the vast majority of the participants mentioned that they can depend on breastfeeding as a method of family planning up to return of menstruation. The relatives represented the main source of information while physicians had minor role. Good knowledge of LAM is higher in women with university level of education, working women and in those from urban area. About half of studied women agreed that LAM is a sure method of family planning; most of them (80.0%) agreed to practice it while only more than half of them (57.8%) agreed to advice women to use it. So about one third of studied women had positive attitude towards LAM and the positive attitude was higher in women with low level of education and in women from rural residence. About one third of previously breastfed women reported practice of LAM before, very few numbers of them (9.2%) use it correctly. High incidence of unintended pregnancy (30.8%) was observed among past LAM users due to incorrect use. Practicing of LAM was higher in women from rural residence, not working women and women with low educational level. This study concluded that although most of the studied women were aware with the possibility of using the breastfeeding as a contraceptive method, only small percentage of them were knowledgeable about the three criteria of LAM. Rural women had positive attitude and more practicing LAM than unban women. The findings recommend that the health care providers should encourage mothers to breastfeed their children and give the women good counseling about lactational amenorrhea method.