Some Intermediate of Fertility in Egypt

This study was conducted by interrogating 220 women in poor suburban areas to collect from them data which are known to affect fertility. Data about age, parity, favorable and unfavorable outcome of pregnancy, lactation habit and its continuation and regularity, menstrual pattern which follow labor and is known to affect ovulation, sexual habits in the first few months which follow delivery and practicing of contraception are collected. Results pointed out the factors which are nearly the same in urban low socioeconomic classes and rural areas which act as important motives for high fertility. For the age of marriage more than 60% of the group married at age of 15 years, with a mean age 17.9 years. Average total births for the group were 4.3 births r ranging from 1-13, and that for live birth, was 3.3 children. This indicated high loss rates accounted for 1.0 fetus or child per family and ranging from 1-7.
 For lactation practice in the group it was highly predominant among the group and irregular in the majority of cases, accounted for 20 times/day in some conditions; but all said that it was enough for the child till 12 months. This might reflect its effect on deployment of ovulation and at the same time its bad effect on the nutritional status of baby. Mean interpregnancy interval was shorter than 2 years which pointed out to the fact that once lactation decrease or stopped probability of pregnancy increased and that is why we are in great need for successful family planning post-partum program.
Menstrual pattern was as expected, as menstruation began at the 40th. day and then in 16.8% of cases at stopped till the end of the first year, i.e. end of lactation or its decrease. In 31.8% it continues after 40^th day.  Sexual habits investigations proved that the majority of them resume their normal lives before the 40th. Day although from the religions point of view this is prohibited among Muslims. This happens without using contraceptive measures with the thoughts that lactation prevents pregnancy. This increase the probability of pregnancy Marked difference were noticed between habits after labor and abortion. These results pointed out some important variables in fertility which increase population problem in developing areas and the great need for successful family planning program with measures which do not interfere with lactation practice among low socioeconomic groups.