Breast-feeding and sexual abstinence in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

SummaryData collected in Papua New Guinea between November 1979 and March 1980 show that the main reason for prolonged breast-feeding and sexual abstinence is to ensure the welfare of the mother and child (which is indirectly a means of child spacing). The mean period of breast-feeding for the rural mothers is 21·8 months and for the urban mothers is 20·7 months. The mean duration of sexual abstinence for the rural male respondents is 21·4 months and for the female is 20·2 months. The figures for their urban counterparts are 19·5 months and 16·6 months respectively.