Determinants of Birth Spacing Practice Among Parous Mothers

Isaac Harold; Joy Chinonyerem Amaechi; Pearl Chikasilamobu Ajie; Aniekan Isaac Harold

doi:10.59786/bmtj.226

Authors

Isaac Harold Department of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, 500101, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6345-7935
Joy Chinonyerem Amaechi Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, College of Health Science, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, 500004, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0009-0003-2745-394X
Pearl Chikasilamobu Ajie Department of Public Health Sciences, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, 500101, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3872-7198
Aniekan Isaac Harold Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, 200005, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0009-0004-0554-9032

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59786/bmtj.226

Keywords:

Birth spacing practice, Pregnancy, Parous mothers, Contraception, Contraceptive methods, Port Harcourt

Abstract

Birth spacing is the interval between a live birth and a subsequent pregnancy, which is recommended to be at least two years. This study aimed to identify the determinants of birth spacing practices among parous mothers attending antenatal clinics in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 410 parous mothers aged 15–49 in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, from June to October 2024. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select the respondents, and data were collected using a semi-structured, interviewer-assisted questionnaire. Frequency tables were generated, and a binary logistic regression model was used to identify the determinants of birth spacing practices at a 5% significance level. The respondents’ mean age was 35.2 ± 3.9 years. The prevalence of birth spacing practice was 36.6%, with condoms (13.7%) being the most commonly used contraceptive method. Determinants such as attaining secondary education (OR = 1.9; 95% CI = 3.6–11.8; P = 0.00), tertiary education (OR = 1.5; 95% CI = 2.6–7.6; P = 0.00), employment status (OR = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.4–4.1 ; P = 0.00), knowledge of birth spacing (two-year interval (OR = 3.5; 95% CI = 1.6–7.4; P = 0.00), knowledge of the benefits of birth spacing (OR = 2.6; 95% CI = 3.7–46.4 P = 0.00), and spouse consent (OR = 3.8; 95% CI = 2.5–5.8; P = 0.00) significantly contributed to the practice of birth spacing among parous mothers.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Tesema GA, Worku MG, Teshale AB. Duration of birth interval and its predictors among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia: Gompertz gamma shared frailty modeling. Plos one. 2021;16(2):e0247091.

Wegbom AI, Edet CK, Osaro BO, Oji AL, Onyema C, Samuel GK. Determinants of Short Birth Intervals in Northern and Southern Nigeria: Analysis of Demographic and Health Survey Data. International Journal of Health Sciences and Research. 2023;13(7):23 - 45.

Gelagay AA, Worku AG, Bashah DT, et al. Factors affecting birth interval among mothers in Dabat district, Amhara Regional state, Northwest Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study, 2022. Heliyon. 2023;9(6)

Mare KU, Sabo KG, Mohammed AA, et al. Suboptimal birth spacing practice and its predictors among reproductive-age women in Sub-Saharan African countries: a multilevel mixed-effects modeling with robust Poisson regression. Reproductive Health. 2023;20(1):132.

Ajayi AI, Somefun OD. Patterns and determinants of short and long birth intervals among women in selected sub-Saharan African countries. Medicine. 2020;99(19):e20118.

Tesema GA, Wolde M, Tamirat KS, et al. Factors associated with short birth interval among reproductive-age women in East Africa. Women's Health. 2023;19:17455057231209879.

Aleni M, Mbalinda S, Muhindo R. Birth intervals and associated factors among women attending young child clinic in Yumbe Hospital, Uganda. International journal of reproductive medicine. 2020;2020(1):1326596.

Chungkham HS, Sahoo H, Marbaniang SP. Birth interval and childhood undernutrition: Evidence from a large scale survey in India. Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health. 2020;8(4):1189-1194.

Owoyemi JO, Haruna SA. Socio-Demographic Determinants of Child Spacing Practice among Women of Reproductive Age in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, North Central Nigeria. ESUT Journal of Social Sciences. 2021;6(2):234 - 241.

Bliznashka L, Jeong J. Investigating the direct and indirect associations between birth intervals and child growth and development: A cross-sectional analysis of 13 Demographic and Health Surveys. SSM-population health. 2022;19:101168.

Yohannes S, Wondafrash M, Abera M, Girma E. Duration and determinants of birth interval among women of child bearing age in Southern Ethiopia. BMC pregnancy and childbirth. 2011;11:1-6.

Brown W, Ahmed S, Roche N, Sonneveldt E, Darmstadt GL. Impact of family planning programs in reducing high-risk births due to younger and older maternal age, short birth intervals, and high parity. Elsevier; 2015:338-344.

Fayehun O, Omololu O, Isiugo-Abanihe UC. Sex of preceding child and birth spacing among Nigerian ethnic groups. African journal of reproductive health. 2011;15(2):79-89.

Gebrehiwot SW, Abera G, Tesfay K, Tilahun W. Short birth interval and associated factors among women of child bearing age in northern Ethiopia, 2016. BMC women's health. 2019;19:1-9.

Ahammed B, Kabir MR, Abedin MM, Ali M, Islam MA. Determinants of different birth intervals of ever married women: Evidence from Bangladesh. Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health. 2019;7(3):450-456.

Larasanti A, Ayuningtyas D. Effects of family planning service utilization determinants on unmet need incidents with generalized structural equation modeling. AJOG Global Reports. 2022;2(4):100088.

Ara I, Maqbool M, Gani I. Reproductive Health of Women: implications and attributes. International Journal of Current Research in Physiology and Pharmacology. 2022:8-18.

Nwogu JN, Igbolekwu CO, Nwokocha EE, Nwogu EC, Nwabugwu ON, Arisukwu O. Roman Catholicism and fertility among the Mbaise, Southeast, Nigeria. Heliyon. 2021;7(2)

Das T, Roy TB. While inadequate birth interval becomes detrimental to health & nutritional outcome in infant and under-five year children; a systematic review through BLR and CPH model. Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health. 2021;11:100714.

Gipson JD, Koenig MA, Hindin MJ. The effects of unintended pregnancy on infant, child, and parental health: a review of the literature. Studies in family planning. 2008;39(1):18-38.

Wegbom AI, Bademosi A, Edet CK, Green KI, Sapira-Ordu L, Fagbamigbe AF. Rural–urban disparities in birth interval among women of reproductive age in Nigeria. Scientific reports. 2022;12(1):17488.

Barrow A. A Survey on Prevalence and Knowledge of Family Planning among Women of Childbearing Age in the Provincial Settings of the Gambia: A Descriptive Cross‐Sectional Study. Advances in preventive medicine. 2020;2020(1):8862290.

Akamike IC, Madubueze UC, Okedo-Alex IN, et al. Perception, pattern of use, partner support and determinants of uptake of family planning methods among women in rural communities in Southeast Nigeria. Contraception and Reproductive Medicine. 2020;5:1-8.

Addah A, Omietimi J, Kotingo E. Birth Spacing Practices in Bayelsa State of Nigeria. A Cross Sectional Study of Antenatal Women in a Tertiary Centre. Integrated Journal of BRITISH. 2015;2(2):171-181.

Pimentel J, Ansari U, Omer K, et al. Factors associated with short birth interval in low-and middle-income countries: a systematic review. BMC pregnancy and childbirth. 2020;20:1-17.

Belachew TB, Asmamaw DB, Negash WD. Short birth interval and its predictors among reproductive age women in high fertility countries in sub-Saharan Africa: a multilevel analysis of recent Demographic and Health Surveys. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2023;23(1):81.

Meskele B, Kerbo AA, Baza D, Kacharo MM. The magnitude of sub-optimal child spacing practices and its associated factors among women of childbearing age in Wolaita zone, Sodo Zuria District, Southern Ethiopia: community based cross-sectional study. Pan African Medical Journal. 2023;44(1):30 - 41.

Rutstein S, Winter R. The effects of fertility behavior on child survival and child nutritional status: evidence from the demographic and health surveys, 2006 to 2012. DHS Analytical Studies. 2014;2014(37):65.

Conde-Agudelo A, Rosas-Bermúdez A, Kafury-Goeta AC. Effects of birth spacing on maternal health: a systematic review. American journal of obstetrics and gynecology. 2007;196(4):297-308.