Abstract
The associations between birth interval and a range of child health outcomes were examined in a population-based cohort of approximately 3500 urban Brazilian children. The effects of several socioeconomic and maternal confounding factors were controlled for in the analyses. Children born after shorter birth intervals (71 months) also showed some disadvantage for birth weight, perinatal mortality, and infant mortality. However, this group experienced lower risks of hospitalizations during the first 19 months of life and better anthropometric status at mean age 19 months. This study provides data that are scarce from such settings and contributes to the quantification of associations between birth spacing and child health. This information is important in the planning of appropriate intervention strategies.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1049-1054 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Pediatrics |
| Volume | 89 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| State | Published - 1992 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- birth intervals
- birth weight
- fetal growth retardation
- infant mortality
- malnutrition
- morbidity
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health