Author:
Jena Belayneh Hamdela,Biks Gashaw Andargie,Gete Yigzaw Kebede,Gelaye Kassahun Alemu
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Preterm birth, low birth weight and perinatal deaths are common adverse perinatal outcomes that are linked with each other, and a public health problems contributing to neonatal mortality, especially in developing countries. Although more than half of women in Ethiopia become pregnant within a short interval after the preceding childbirth, whether the short intervals increase the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes or not is understudied. We, therefore, aimed to assess the effects of inter-pregnancy intervals (IPIs) on the adverse perinatal outcomes.
Methods
A community-based prospective cohort study was conducted among 2578 pregnant women in urban South Ethiopia. Pregnant women with IPIs < 24 months (IPIs < 18 and 18–23 months) were exposed groups, and those with IPI 24–60 months were the unexposed group. A multilevel analysis (mixed-effects) was done to estimate the effect of IPIs on preterm birth and low birth weight, and a generalized linear model for a binary outcome (fixed-effect) was done for perinatal deaths, using a 95% confidence level.
Results
In this study, IPI < 18 months found to increase the risk of preterm birth (Adjusted Relative Risk (ARR) = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.78), term low birth weight (ARR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.35, 3.58) and perinatal deaths (ARR = 3.83, 95% CI: 1.90, 7.71) than 24–60 months. The results suggest that, about 9% of preterm birth, 21% of term low birth weight and 41% of perinatal deaths in the study population were attributed to IPI < 18 months. These could be prevented with the removal of the IPI < 18 months in the study population. IPI 18–23 months has shown no effect on the three adverse perinatal outcomes.
Conclusion
This study has shown that, IPI under 18 months has a higher risk of adverse perinatal outcomes than IPI 24–60 months. Due attention should still be given for spacing pregnancies.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering