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Audience: Health and family planning service providers, program staff from child survival, reproductive health and family planning projects

Purpose: Train health care personnel and community health workers to provide the Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) within their child health, reproductive health, or family planning services.

Content:

Technical	Skills
LAM criteria Benefits of child spacing Physiology of LAM Advantages and disadvantages of LAM Optimal breastfeeding practices Special situations that can affect breastfeeding Differences between LAM, breastfeeding, and amenorrhea Monitoring and evaluation of LAM	Counsel women on LAM, transitioning to another method, and preventing and overcoming breastfeeding difficulties

Methodology: A participatory training approach, geared towards practical responses to problem solving and questions related to difficulties encountered by women using LAM. Includes role-plays, small and large group activities, brainstorming activities, lectures, question and answer sessions, and a practicum.

Structure: The module is divided into three units (Unit 1 basic LAM concepts, Unit 2 providing LAM services, and Unit 3 monitoring and evaluating LAM). A practicum is conducted in the community and/or a facility, as appropriate.

Materials and tools: Participant materials include exercises, pre- and post-test tools with answer sheets, and LAM counseling skills checklist. Trainer materials include instructions for learning activities, transparencies, a power point presentation on LAM monitoring and evaluation (view presentation), and a training evaluation.

Time: 9 1/2 hours plus a 2-4 hour practicum
Languages: English, French, Spanish and Arabic
Country applications: Jordan, Madagascar, Ghana, and Nicaragua
Date Developed: Updated March 2004 (Spanish, English); January 2002 (French)