title: Study of the effect of birth spacing on maternal health.
abstract: This study aims at identifying the effect of birth spacing on maternal health. The study was carried out on a representative sample of 324 married women at the fertile age period and having at least two children. The result of this study revealed that women practicing birth spacing were 33.3% of the studied sample. The mean age was 34.4 +/- 5.3 years and 31.3 +/- 5.7 years for improper and proper birth spacing respectively. Improper birth spacing women constituted 70.2% of low social class. Out of the total number of improper birth spaced women, 41.7% were overweight, 25.9% were hypertensive, 57.4% had varicose veins, and 18.1% had low limb oedema. Concerning Gynecological findings; vaginal discharge and cervical erosion were 70.4% and 19.4% of improper birth spacing women respectively, laboratory investigations revealed that anaemia and glucosuria were 88.4% and 12.5% of improper birth spacing women respectively. Good knowledge and favorable attitude were 88% and 100% of properly birth spaced women. The mean number of gravidity, number of abortions and number of infant deaths were 6.6 +/- 2.8; 0.9 +/- 1.3 and 1.36 +/- 1.63 of improperly birth spaced women respectively and 4.2 +/- 1.7; 0.6 +/- 1.1 and 0.41 +/- 0.81 of properly birth spaced women respectively. It could be concluded that young women were practicing birth spacing more properly. Rural origin women are less practicing birth spacing. Medical and Gynecological disorders were more among improper birth spacing women. Pregnancy wastage are more among improper birth spacing. It is to be recommended that more efforts should be done among low social class. Encouraging young women to practice pre-natal care. Emphasizing on the practice of proper birth spacing and small family size.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: el-Maaddawi
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Aboul-Ella
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Abdel-Moneim
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Tantawy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001721:Birth Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D009017:Morbidity; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012923:Social Class; D016387:Women's Health