Pregnancy intervals: their determinants and foetal outcome at the KCMC, Moshi, Tanzania

A total of 566 multigravidae who delivered at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC), Moshi, between 15th May and 30th July, 1989, were interviewed to determine the pregnancy intervals, their determinants as well as foetal outcome. 62.1% of the study group had pregnancy intervals longer than 2 years. The factors which appeared to influence pregnancy interval in this study included maternal age, period of breastfeeding, postpartum amenorrhoea, postpartum coital abstinence, contraception and outcome of the preceding pregnancy. Other factors such as maternal education, occupation, marital status, pregnancy order, and religion, did not appear to have any effect on the pregnancy intervals. The pregnancy interval did not seem to affect the outcome of the index pregnancy. It is recommended that those factors with a positive impact on pregnancy interval be promoted as widely as possible in Tanzania, so as to contribute toward the control of population growth, as well as the overall maternal and child health, and national economy.