Contraceptive and health benefits of breastfeeding: a review of the recent evidence
VanLandingham, M.; Trussell, J.; Grummer Strawn, L.
International Family Planning Perspectives 17(4): 131-136
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0190-3187 DOI: 10.2307/2133228Document Number: 316647
Breast-feeding has important health and contraceptive benefits in developing countries. These benefits are not entirely distinct from one another, because part of the health benefit of lactation derives from its contraceptive effect. Breast milk provides all the nutrients an infant needs during the first few months of life, as well as immunological agents that protect against disease. Breast-feeding improves child survival by decreasing an infant's exposure to contaminated food and water, and by lengthening the interval between births, thus preventing premature weaning and sibling competition for food, and reducing nutritional depletion of the mother. These potential benefits are greatest in societies with low contraceptive prevalence, little supplementation of breast milk, low nutritional status of women and cultural taboos against sexual relations for the duration of breast-feeding.