Duration and determinants of inter-birth interval among women in Enugu, south-eastern Nigeria
Dim, C.C.; Ugwu, E.O.; Iloghalu, E.I.
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology the Journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 33(2): 175-179
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 1364-6893 PMID: 23445143 DOI: 10.3109/01443615.2012.747494Document Number: 581097
The difference in fertility levels of any given two societies has a relationship with the interval between births. We determined the duration of inter-birth interval and the determinants of short inter-birth interval in Enugu, Nigeria. Questionnaires were administered to a cross-section of 420 women consecutively recruited from the family planning and antenatal clinics of two hospitals in Enugu metropolis. The mean age was 30.9 ± 5.1 (range 20-44) years. The median inter-birth interval was 21.5 months and the prevalence of modern contraceptive use among respondents was 18.1%. Women's age of 25 years or less, duration of breast-feeding of 10 months or less, and non-use of modern contraceptives had strong association (p < 0.05) with short inter-birth interval. The mean inter-birth interval in Enugu is short. Future child spacing campaign in Enugu should target the encouragement of longer breast-feeding practices and increased uptake of modern contraception among our women.