Association of birth Spacing with birth weight in Baghdad City

Abstract

Background: Birth spacing might influence infantile under nutrition through its association with preterm

births and low birth weight. If a pregnancy occurs too soon after the previous birth, the mother may not have

recovered her nutritional status, which can contribute to preterm birth and low birth weight. Birth spacing

allows women to recover and be healthy for their next pregnancy.

Objectives: To determining the effect of birth spacing with birth weight, also to study the factors effecting

birth spacing interval in a sample of women in Baghdad city.

Materials and methods: The study design was descriptive study (cross sectional). Which included 100

women collected from Mohammad-Baker-Al-Hakim Hospital in Shua’la city in Baghdad, during the period

from 10th October 2017 till 10th March 2018 during data collection, the questionnaire from each woman was

done.

Results: This study clarified that the highest percentage of women (46%) had a birth interval (>24) months

and (26%) them had a birth interval of (8-12) month. while, lower percentage of women (12%) had a

birth interval of (13-18) months. The highest percentage of birth babies of (3.2Kg) and more than (3.2Kg)

(51.19%) had a birth interval of (>24) months, while, highest percentage of less than (3.2Kg), (50%) had

birth intervals of (8-12) months.

Conclusions: The highest rate of women had a birth interval of (>24) months with birth interval of (8-12)

months, had a birth interval of (13-18) months. Birth interval was longer in mother of breast feeding. The

highest rate of birth space interval was among age group (26-30) years. The highest rate of birth weight

babies had birth intervals of (>24) months with birth intervals of (8-12) months.