Birth spacing and prolonged lactation in rural Zambia

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Abstract
Summary: Data were collected from 1044 mothers resident in the rural areas of Zambia during a National Nutrition Status Survey, to determine the effect of lactation on the interval between conceptions. Lactation is very prolonged with a small proportion of mothers continuing up to 33 months. A main reason for cessation of breast-feeding appears to be a new pregnancy, only 1.5% of mothers being neither pregnant nor lactating up to 12 months. During lactation, conception is delayed for at least 12 months. The peak in new conceptions occurs between 25 and 27 months. The normal interval between births is 3 years for rural Zambian mothers.