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  • Title: Fertility and breast-feeding in Africa.
    Author: Mondot-bernard J.
    Journal: Afr Environ; 1981; (14-16):131-50. PubMed ID: 12339338.
    Abstract:
    This paper reviews the significant effects of breastfeeding in Africa on both fertility and infant health status. Although there is an unfortunate lack of adequate data on the practice of breastfeeding in African countries, it appears to be widespread and ranges in duration from 12-36 months, with an average of 18-24 months. A study from Senegal noted an average duration of 18 months in Dakar compared with 24.3 months in a rural area. A longer duration of breastfeeding in the rural areas was also found in Algeria; however, only 14.4% of urban women either did not breastfeed or breastfed for less than 1 month. Duration increased with age and number of births up to parity 7. Breastfeeding influences fertility by extending the interval between births. Infant mortality, which is more widespread among children who are not breastfed, is a major cause of a short interbirth interval. The death of a child at a very young age has the same effect on fecundity as early weaning. Although weaning practices vary from country to country, weaning is a stage of development during which the African society shows concern with integrating the infant into the community. The appearance of malnutrition frequently coincides with weaning. Foods given to the child are often beyond his digestive capabilities, and those rich in assimilable protein are expensive. It is urged that African countries elaborate nutritional programs aimed at these problems with the assistance of international agencies in the area of development. Family planning initiatives should give careful attention to breastfeeding and its related customs such as sexual interdicts. Toward this end, more research is needed in the areas of nutritional health, duration of postpartum amenorrhea, protein intake, and infections.
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