Postpartum Amenorrhoea among Manipuri Women: A Survival Analysis

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 variablesplace 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.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jhpn.v30i1.11288

J HEALTH POPUL NUTR 2012 Mar;30(1):93-98