Abstract:
Introduction: Birth spacing is a gap between two consecutive births which refers to resting
period that allows the mother time to recover from pregnancy and labor. The World Health
Organization recommends a birth interval of at least 33 months before the next child. Although
optimal birth spacing (3-5 years), is one of the key strategies to improve nutritional status of
children, level of birth spacing among mother of children with severe acute malnutrition is rarely
addressed.
Objective: The objective of this study was to assess birth spacing and associated factors among
mothers whose children was admitted with severe acute malnutrition in OdaBultum Woreda
Therapeutic Feeding Center, West Hararghe Zone, Oromia Regional State, from October 5 to
December 4, 2020.
Methods: A Facility based cross-sectional study was conducted on mothers in reproductive age
whose children were admitted to the eight OdaBultum Therapeutic Feeding Center. After
stratification of the center into rural and urban areas, sample was proportionally allocated to each
stratum. Then; eligible mothers were systematically selected and interviewed using structured
questionnaire by trained nurses. Data were checked for completeness and entered using EpiData
3.1, and then exported to SPSS 21 for analysis. Birth interval <33 months was considered short
birth interval. Bi-and multi-variable regression was used to identify variables associated with
short birth spacing. Associations were described using odds ratio along with 95% CI and p-value
<0.05 was used as cut-off point for significant association.
Results: A total 404 mothers of children with severe acute malnutrition participated in the study.
The prevalence of short birth interval was 59.9% (95% CI= 56.74-63.45). Age at marriage (AOR:
2.46, 95%CI=1.34-4.51), mother educational status (AOR: 2.18, 95% CI=1.72, 4.53) and duration
of breastfeeding (AOR: 1.8, 95% CI=1.91-3.31) were found to be significantly associated with
short birth spacing. Conclusion and Recommendation: More than half (59.9%) of severe acute
malnutrition children mothers had short birth spacing. Community and facility based awareness
creation should be conducted on importance of breast feeding duration for >=24 months, Age at
marriage and educating females.
