title: Birth interval and risk of stillbirth or neonatal death: findings from rural north India.
abstract: Short birth intervals have been associated with adverse birth outcomes. This study examines the association between preceding interval and risk of stillbirth or neonatal death in rural north India (n = 80 164). Adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of stillbirth and neonatal mortality were calculated. The odds of stillbirth were significantly greater among birth intervals of <18 months (OR 3.10; CI: 2.69-3.57), 18-35 months (OR 1.47; CI 1.30-1.68) and >59 months (OR 1.44; CI 1.19-1.73), compared with intervals of 36-59 months. Neonatal death was associated with birth intervals of <18 months (OR 4.12; CI 3.74-4.55) and 18-35 months (OR 1.78; CI 1.63-1.94), compared to births spaced 36-59 months. Previous history of either stillbirth or neonatal death was significantly associated with risk of stillbirth and neonatal death, respectively, as were multiple births.
authors.affiliation: Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA. emwillia@jhsph.edu
authors.forename: Emma K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Mian B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Ravendra K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Vishwajeet
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Chandra M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.forename: Abdullah H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Baqui
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001721:Birth Intervals; D001722:Birth Order; D002423:Cause of Death; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D050497:Stillbirth / Q000453:epidemiology*