Factors Associated With Child Spacing of First and Second Born Children among Women of Reproductive Age in Uganda

Abstract

Birth spacing refers to the time from one child’s birth until the next pregnancy, also known as the interpregnancy interval. Pregnancies that start less than 18 months after birth are associated with delayed prenatal care and adverse birth outcomes, including preterm birth, neonatal morbidity, and low birth weight. It summarizes key findings related to birth and pregnancy spacing, fertility return, unmet need for and use of family planning (FP), and contact with key services for women during the period from the last birth through two years postpartum. Because research findings demonstrate improved perinatal outcomes for infants born 36–59 months after a preceding birth, experts made recommendations to a World Health Organization (WHO) Technical Committee to advise an interval of at least 24 months before couples attempt to become pregnant in order to reduce the risk of adverse maternal, perinatal and infant outcomes. In addition, various analyses have found that interpregnancy (birth-to-pregnancy) intervals that are too short are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, increased morbidity in pregnancy, and increased infant and child mortality. (World Health Organization, 2007) Objectives To assess the association between demographic factors and child spacing of the first and second born children among women of reproductive age in Uganda, To establish the association between socio-economic factors and child spacing of the first and second born children among women of reproductive age in Uganda, To assess the association between maternal factors and child spacing of the first and second born children among women of reproductive age in Uganda. Findings. This study established that age of the mother, mothers education, marital status, wealth index and maternal factors like breastfeeding, ANC, contraception were explaining the utilization of child spacing among 1st and 2nd born of women in their reproductive age(15-49 ) . Therefore, it should be recommended that women aged 20 to 24 should be encouraged to participate in child spacing since they are the first mothers of Country. Recommendations Organizations like ministry of health, Uganda and the government of Uganda should ensure that all the areas rural and urban are informed about the importance of child spacing and the dangers of not child spacing.