Interpregnancy intervals, birth outcomes and educational needs

Abstract

Inter-Pregnancy Interval (IPI) is defined as the time between pregnancies; a short IPI has been associated with negative birth outcomes. The goal of this retrospective cohort study was to examine existing IPI data from all Kansas women in the United States from 2005-2013 who had more than one live singleton birth. Unmatched and matched births were used to model the odds of preterm birth, small for gestational age birth, and low birth weight with IPI as the predictor variable of interest. The data set included 25,754 singleton births. The incidence rate of preterm birth for second births was 7.0%, small for gestational age was 8.6%, and 5.0% for low birth weight; third births rates were 7.1%, 8.2% and 5.0%, respectively. Short IPIs may not be causally associated with low birthweight, preterm birth, and small for gestational age. However short IPIs should still be used as an indicator of risk status.