Factors Associated with Inadequate Birth Intervals in the BRISA Birth Cohort, Brazil

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Maternal Epidemiology
• Perinatal Studies

Background:

• Optimal birth intervals are crucial for maternal and child health outcomes.
• Understanding factors influencing birth spacing is essential for reproductive health planning.
• The BRISA cohort provides a valuable dataset for studying birth interval determinants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of inadequate birth intervals (short and long) within the BRISA study population.
• To identify sociodemographic, clinical, and obstetric factors associated with short and long birth intervals.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study design was employed using data from the BRISA cohort.
• Birth intervals were categorized as adequate (2-5 years), short (<2 years), or long (≥5 years).
• Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to identify associated factors.

Main Results:

• Adequate birth intervals were observed in 48.3% of cases, long intervals in 34.6%, and short intervals in 17.1%.
• Higher parity (≥3 births) was associated with short birth intervals (OR=1.29).
• Older maternal age (≥35 years), higher parity, and gestational diabetes were associated with long birth intervals, while adequate prenatal visits were associated with adequate intervals.

Conclusions:

• Maternal age and parity are significant predictors of birth interval length.
• Gestational diabetes and receiving adequate prenatal care are associated with adequate birth intervals.
• Health system interventions promoting adequate prenatal care can positively influence birth spacing.