Suchergebnisse

SummaryThe contraceptive method used during lactation should be chosen on the basis of (a) effectiveness in preventing pregnancy and (b) its effect on lactation. Combined hormonal contraceptives affect lactation adversely due to the oestrogen component. Progestogen-only contraceptives may increase the quantity and quality of milk yield during lactation. In the present study the effects of four progestational drugs used immediately after delivery were investigated. No adverse effect on initiation of lactation was found. The side effects of the drugs are reported. No pregnancies were reported during the period of the study.

The effect of four progestational drugs on the amount of milk yield in a group of lactating Egyptian women was estimated during the first year of lactation. The milk yield was highest in the women given Depo-Provera, followed by those receiving Deladroxone and quingestanol acetate. Only in those women given chlormadinone acetate was the milk yield, on average, lower than in the control group of non-medicated women.

The milk yield in a group of lactating Egyptian women was estimated during the first twelve post-partum months. It increased from the second to the seventh month, then dropped gradually in the last four months. The best milk yield was found in women aged 20–30 years, with a parity of two to four and an inter-delivery interval of 30–36 months. (Summary in Arabic, p. 401.)

SummaryIn a retrospective study, the impact of breast-feeding on the survival probabilities of children born to women in hospitals in Cairo, Egypt, is estimated. The analysis shows that early cessation of breastfeeding is associated with higher mortality and the effects are more severe the lower the education level of the mother.

SummaryBirths to women aged 35 years and older are compared with births to women aged 20–34 in three hospitals, one each in Mexico, Egypt and Hungary. In the two developing countries, babies born to the older women had lower rates of survival until hospital discharge, and were more likely to have depressed 5-minute Apgar scores. They were not, however, more likely to be of low birth weight. The differences were statistically significant, and remained when several other variables were controlled. The variables controlled were known to be age-related and to influence pregnancy outcome.Hungary, the only developed country in the analysis, was quite different. Age had a significant influence on the weight of the infant, but not on survival or Apgar score. It seems therefore that when older women are in general good health and there are no concurrent social risk factors, advanced maternal age does not necessarily increase the risk of an adverse pregnancy outcome.

The effects of four progestational drugs on the composition of human milk during the first year of lactation were studied in Egyptian women. In comparison with a group of non-medicated women, chlormadinone acetate, Depo-Provera and Deladroxone all caused a marked increase in protein content in the early stages of lactation; quingestanol acetate had little overall effect. The lipid and lactose content showed irregular changes in the medicated groups as compared with the controls.

The composition of human milk during the first year of lactation was studied. The effect of age, parity and the length of inter-delivery interval on the composition is described. Of the three parameters, the length of inter-delivery intervals was the most important, while the other two were weakly correlated. (Summary in Arabic, p. 409.)