Relation of birth spacing with birth weight, morbidity and mortality of the newborn

A total of 410 women delivering in the U.I.S.E. Maternity Hospital in Kanpur, India, were included in a study to determine the relation of birth interval with birth weight and infant morbidity and mortality. 66.7% of the sample group had a birth spacing of less than 2 1/2 years, 25.1% between 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 years, and 8.2% above 3 1/2 years. As birth interval increased, so did mean birth weight; mean birth weight was lowest (2150 gm) when spacing was less than 1 year and exhibited an upward trend up to 3 1/2 years. 60.8% of the infants delivered at a birth interval of less than 1 year weighed less than 2000 gm compared with 11.3% of the infants born at birth interval of 3-3 1/2 years. The highest percentages of infant morbidity (52.1%) and mortality (13.1%) were found when birth spacing was less than 1 year; both rates were considerably reduced (20.5% and 2.2%, respectively) when birth spacing was 2 1/2-3 1/2 years. Birth spacing is closely related to effective family planning, and its practice may yield substantial child health benefits.