Birth interval and maternal outcome in University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital – A cross sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Although birth spacing is recognised as a major determinant of various infant health indicators, the effect of interpregnancy interval on maternal pregnancy outcomes has received less attention.

Aim: To determine the effect of interpregnancy interval on maternal outcome in our environment after controlling for confounding factors.

Method: A cross sectional study, conducted at the university of Maiduguri teaching hospital. The subjects were multiparous women carrying singleton pregnancy who come to deliver at the hospital Obstetrics and Gynaecology unit during the study period. A pretested questionnaire was used to obtain data which was analyse with SPSS. The effect of birth interval on maternal outcome was determined using multivariate analysis after controlling for confounding variables.

Result: Out of the 1334 participants that fulfilled the inclusion criteria and approached for the study, complete data was obtained in 1188 women; a response rate of 89%. The mean maternal age was 28.7±5.7 years, mean parity 4.3±2.2 and the mean birth interval was 32.9±18.4 months. Short birth interval was found to be associated with high parity OR (95%CI) =1.559(1.150-2.113), preterm delivery OR (95%CI)= 2.462(1.518-3.994) and development of anaemia in pregnancy OR (95%CI) =1.77(1.058-2.959) while long birth interval was associated with development of hypertension in pregnancy OR (95%CI) = 3.001(1.734-5.195) and delivery by caesarean section OR (95%CI) = 4.884(2.499-9.546)

Conclusion: Short birth interval was associated with higher parity, anaemia and preterm delivery while long birth interval was associated with hypertension and caesarean section.