Breastfeeding effects on birth interval components: a prospective child health study in Gaza.

Data that were collected prospectively from a child health study conducted in Gaza show a strong relationship between breastfeeding and two major components of birth intervals, the postpartum anovulatory period and the waiting time to conception. The Gaza population is similar to other populations in the Middle East in having moderate durations of breastfeeding and short intervals between births. The finding of a strong positive association between breastfeeding and the length of postpartum amenorrhea is as expected from numerous other studies. The relationship between breastfeeding behavior and the waiting time to conception is examined using hazard model analysis. Women who are breastfeeding when menstruation resumes and continue to do so are less likely to conceive than other women, according to the analysis.