Effects of Short Birth Interval on Birth Outcomes among Term Pregnant Mothers in Labor

Abstract

          Short birth interval is a global public health problem that remains challenging in Ethiopia. This study aimed to determine the effects of short birth interval on birth outcomes among term pregnant mothers in labor in Nekemte, Ethiopia.

          An institution-based prospective cohort-study with a convenient sampling technique was conducted from February 01 to March 30, 2016. A total of 207 term pregnant mothers were enrolled with the ratio of 1:2 women with short birth intervals and actualbirth intervals. The data collected using a structured questionnaire was analyzed by SPSS version 20.

        Women with short birth intervals were more likely to have premature rupture of membrane, prolonged labor, preeclampsia, and risk of malposition or malpresentation compared to women with actual birth intervals. Women with short birth intervals also had babies with low birth weight, low APGAR score, respiratory distress, risk of having early age for gestational growth, early neonatal death, and anemicnewborn babies compared to women with actual birth intervals.

          Therefore, the findings of this study revealed that short birth intervals had a significant influence on both maternal and neonatal health outcomes.

Keywords

• Short Birth Interval
• Normal Birth Interval
• Birth Outcome
• Ethiopia

Supporting Institution

None

References

1. Alexander, G., Himes, J., Kaufman, R., Mor, J., Kogan, M. (1996). A united states national reference for fetal growth. Obstet Gynecol, 87,163-168.
2. Assefa, B. T., Enquoslassie, F., Yusuf, L. (2010). Birth to pregnancy interval and its effect on perinatal outcomes in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Ethiopian Journal of Reproductive Health, 4,17-17.
3. Begna, Z., Assegid, S., Kassahun, W., Gebbaba, M. (2013). Determinants of inter birth interval among married women living in rural pastoral communities of southern Ethiopia: a case control study. BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 13,1-6.
4. CondeAgudelo, A., Belizan, J. M. (2000). Maternal morbidity and mortality associated with interpregnancy interval: Cross sectional study. BMJ, 321,1255-1259.
5. CondeAgudelo, A., RosasBermudez, A., Kafury Goeta, A., Cecilia, A. (2006). Birth spacing and risk of adverse perinatal outcomes: A meta-analysis. JAMA, 295,1837-8.
6. CSA (2007). The 2007 population and housing census of Ethiopia. Addis Ababa: Ethiopia.
7. CSA (2011). Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey 2011. Addis Ababa: Ethiopia.
8. Davanzo, J., Hale, L., Razzaque, A., Rahman, M. (2007). Effects of interpregnancy interval and outcome of the preceding pregnancy on pregnancy outcomes in Matlab, Bangladesh.An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 114,1079-1087.

9. Exavery, A., Mrema, S., Shamte, A., Bietsch, K., Mosha, D., Mbaruku, G., Masanja, H. (2012). Levels and correlates of non-adherence to WHO recommended inter-birth intervals in Rufiji, Tanzania. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 12,1-8.
10. Fotso, J. C., Cleland, J., Mberu, B., Mutua, M., Elungata, P. (2013). Birth spacing and child mortality: An analysis of prospective data from the Nairobi urban health and demographic surveillance system. Journal of Biosocial Science, 45,779-798.
11. Grisaru- Granovsky, S., Gordon, E., Haklai, Z., Samueloff, A., Schimmel, M. (2009). Effect of interpregnancy interval on adverse perinatal outcomes-a national study. Contraception, 80,512-518.
12. Isiugo- Abanihe, U. C., Nwokocha, E. E. (2008). Prevalence and consequences of ewu-ukwu custom in Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria.The Nigerian Journal of Sociology and Anthropology, 6,53-70.
13. Kozuki, N., Lee, A. C., Silveira, M. F., Victora, C. G., Adair, L., Humphrey, J., Ntozini, R., Black, R. E., Katz, J. (2013). The associations of birth intervals with small-for-gestational-age, preterm, and neonatal and infant mortality: A meta-analysis. BMC Public Health, 13,53.
14. Lilungulu, A., Matovelo, D., Kihunrwa, A., Gumodoka, B. (2015). Spectrum of maternal and perinatal outcomes among parturient women with preceding short inter-pregnancy interval at Bugando Medical Centre, Tanzania. Maternal health, Neonatology and Perinatology, 1,1-7.
15. WHO (2006). Report of a technical consultation on birth spacing.Switzerland: Geneva.
16. Mosha, T. C., Philemon, N. (2010). Factors influencing pregnancy outcomes in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania. Tanzania Journal of Health Research, 12,243-251.
17. Rafalimanana, H., Westoff, C. F. (2001). Gap between preferred and actual birth intervals in Sub-saharan Africa: Implications for fertility and child health DHS analytical studies (Report Number 2). Calverton: Maryland.
18. Ramakrishnan, U. (2004). Nutrition and low birth weight: from research to practice. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 79,17-21.
19. Vaneijsden, M., Smits, L. J., Vanderwal, M. F., Bonsel, G. J. (2008). Association between short interpregnancy intervals and term birth weight: The role of folate depletion. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 88,147-153.
20. WHO (2007). Report of a technical consultation on birth spacing. Switzerland: Geneva.
21. Williams, E. K., Hossain, M. B., Sharma, R. K., Kumar, V., Pandey, C. M., Baqui, A. H. (2008). Birth interval and risk of stillbirth or neonatal death: Findings from rural north India. Journal of Tropical Pediatrics, 54,321-327.
22. Yohannes, S., Wondafrash, M., Abera, M., Girma, E. (2011). Duration and determinants of birth interval among women of childbearing age in Southern Ethiopia. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 11,1-6.