Short birth spacing and its association with maternal educational status, contraceptive use, and duration of breastfeeding in Ethiopia. A systematic review and meta-analysis.

<h4>Background</h4>Closely spaced birth increases the risk of adverse maternal and child health outcomes. In Ethiopia, the prevalence of short birth spacing was highly variable across studies. Besides, contraceptive use, educational status, and duration of breastfeeding were frequently m...

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Main Authors: Yitayish Damtie, Bereket Kefale, Melaku Yalew, Mastewal Arefaynie, Bezawit Adane
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2021-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0246348
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author Yitayish Damtie
Bereket Kefale
Melaku Yalew
Mastewal Arefaynie
Bezawit Adane
author_facet Yitayish Damtie
Bereket Kefale
Melaku Yalew
Mastewal Arefaynie
Bezawit Adane
author_sort Yitayish Damtie
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Background</h4>Closely spaced birth increases the risk of adverse maternal and child health outcomes. In Ethiopia, the prevalence of short birth spacing was highly variable across studies. Besides, contraceptive use, educational status, and duration of breastfeeding were frequently mentioned factors affecting short birth spacing. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of short birth spacing and its association with contraceptive use, educational status, and duration of breastfeeding among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia.<h4>Methods</h4>International databases: Google Scholar, PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane library, HINARI, and Global Health were searched systematically to identify articles reporting the prevalence of short birth spacing and its association with contraceptive use, educational status, and duration of breastfeeding among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia. The data were analyzed by STATA/SE version-14 statistical software. The random-effect model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of short birth spacing and the log odds ratio was used to determine the association. Moreover, egger's test and I-squared statistics were used to assess publication bias and heterogeneity respectively.<h4>Results</h4>After reviewing 511 research articles, a total of nine articles with 5,682 study participants were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of short birth spacing in Ethiopia was 46.9% [95% CI: (34.7, 59.1)]. Significant heterogeneity was observed between studies (I2 = 98.4, p <0.001). Not using contraceptives [OR = 3.87, 95% CI: (2.29, 6.53)] and duration of breastfeeding < 24 months [OR = 16.9, 95%CI: (2.69, 106.47)] had a significant association with short birth spacing.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Although a minimum inter-pregnancy interval of two years was recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), significant numbers of women still practiced short birth spacing in Ethiopia. Duration of breastfeeding and non-use of contraceptives were factors significantly associated with short birth spacing. So, efforts should be made to improve breastfeeding practice and contraceptive utilization among women in Ethiopia.
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spelling doaj-art-bcef65c3f7954094870649cd73e002312025-08-20T03:28:50ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032021-01-01162e024634810.1371/journal.pone.0246348Short birth spacing and its association with maternal educational status, contraceptive use, and duration of breastfeeding in Ethiopia. A systematic review and meta-analysis.Yitayish DamtieBereket KefaleMelaku YalewMastewal ArefaynieBezawit Adane<h4>Background</h4>Closely spaced birth increases the risk of adverse maternal and child health outcomes. In Ethiopia, the prevalence of short birth spacing was highly variable across studies. Besides, contraceptive use, educational status, and duration of breastfeeding were frequently mentioned factors affecting short birth spacing. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of short birth spacing and its association with contraceptive use, educational status, and duration of breastfeeding among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia.<h4>Methods</h4>International databases: Google Scholar, PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane library, HINARI, and Global Health were searched systematically to identify articles reporting the prevalence of short birth spacing and its association with contraceptive use, educational status, and duration of breastfeeding among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia. The data were analyzed by STATA/SE version-14 statistical software. The random-effect model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of short birth spacing and the log odds ratio was used to determine the association. Moreover, egger's test and I-squared statistics were used to assess publication bias and heterogeneity respectively.<h4>Results</h4>After reviewing 511 research articles, a total of nine articles with 5,682 study participants were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of short birth spacing in Ethiopia was 46.9% [95% CI: (34.7, 59.1)]. Significant heterogeneity was observed between studies (I2 = 98.4, p <0.001). Not using contraceptives [OR = 3.87, 95% CI: (2.29, 6.53)] and duration of breastfeeding < 24 months [OR = 16.9, 95%CI: (2.69, 106.47)] had a significant association with short birth spacing.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Although a minimum inter-pregnancy interval of two years was recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), significant numbers of women still practiced short birth spacing in Ethiopia. Duration of breastfeeding and non-use of contraceptives were factors significantly associated with short birth spacing. So, efforts should be made to improve breastfeeding practice and contraceptive utilization among women in Ethiopia.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0246348
spellingShingle Yitayish Damtie
Bereket Kefale
Melaku Yalew
Mastewal Arefaynie
Bezawit Adane
Short birth spacing and its association with maternal educational status, contraceptive use, and duration of breastfeeding in Ethiopia. A systematic review and meta-analysis.
PLoS ONE
title Short birth spacing and its association with maternal educational status, contraceptive use, and duration of breastfeeding in Ethiopia. A systematic review and meta-analysis.
title_full Short birth spacing and its association with maternal educational status, contraceptive use, and duration of breastfeeding in Ethiopia. A systematic review and meta-analysis.
title_fullStr Short birth spacing and its association with maternal educational status, contraceptive use, and duration of breastfeeding in Ethiopia. A systematic review and meta-analysis.
title_full_unstemmed Short birth spacing and its association with maternal educational status, contraceptive use, and duration of breastfeeding in Ethiopia. A systematic review and meta-analysis.
title_short Short birth spacing and its association with maternal educational status, contraceptive use, and duration of breastfeeding in Ethiopia. A systematic review and meta-analysis.
title_sort short birth spacing and its association with maternal educational status contraceptive use and duration of breastfeeding in ethiopia a systematic review and meta analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0246348
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