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Birth spacing. Three to five saves lives
Population Reports. Series L, Issues in World Health
|December 10, 2002
Summary
Spacing births 3 to 5 years apart significantly improves survival rates for both children and mothers. Many women desire longer birth intervals, indicating a need for better support programs to achieve desired family spacing.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Maternal and Child Survival
Background:
- Optimal birth spacing is crucial for maternal and child well-being.
- Current birth intervals may not align with women's desired family planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of birth spacing on child and maternal survival.
- To assess women's desires for birth spacing and identify support needs.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of survival data in relation to inter-pregnancy intervals.
- Survey or qualitative data on women's desired birth spacing.
Main Results:
- A birth interval of 3 to 5 years is associated with increased child survival.
- A birth interval of 3 to 5 years is associated with increased maternal survival.
- Many women express a desire for longer birth intervals than currently practiced.
Conclusions:
- Achieving optimal birth spacing (3-5 years) enhances maternal and child survival outcomes.
- There is a gap between women's desired birth spacing and current practices.
- Family planning programs should enhance support for women seeking longer birth intervals.