Open AccessSocioeconomic development predicts a weaker contraceptive effect of breastfeeding
Author(s) -
Nicolas Todd,
Mathias Lerch
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2025348118
Subject(s) - breastfeeding , fertility , amenorrhea , socioeconomic status , medicine , demography , obstetrics , postpartum period , developing country , family planning , breast feeding , population , pregnancy , environmental health , pediatrics , biology , economics , economic growth , sociology , genetics , research methodology
Significance Breastfeeding suppresses postpartum fecundity (the capacity for reproduction). This mechanism is critically important to control fertility (actual reproduction) when contraception is uncommon. Whether dependence of the contraceptive effect of breastfeeding on environmental conditions is strong enough to have a significant effect on fertility remains unclear. Analyzing 2.7 million births in 84 low- and middle-income countries over the past four decades, we find a dramatic weakening of the breastfeeding–postpartum amenorrhea relationship that correlates with improved living standards. These results suggest that, in the absence of contraception, the effect of breastfeeding on fertility depends on the level of socioeconomic development.