FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SHORT CHILD SPACING AMONG PREGNANT MOTHERS ATTENDING ANTENATAL CARE AT SOROTI REGIONAL REFERRAL HOSPITAL. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71020/jwhr.v2i6.34Keywords:
short child spacing, Pregnant Mothers , Attending Antenatal CareAbstract
Background
Scientifically, short child spacing carries a higher risk of preterm birth, perinatal, neonatal, and infant mortality and morbidity. The study aims to determine the factors associated with short child spacing among pregnant mothers attending antenatal care at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital.
Methodology
A descriptive cross-sectional study, employing quantitative methods of data collection. The data collected was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft Excel version 2020 to develop tables, pie charts, and graphs with frequencies and percentages.
Results
Most respondents 54.05% were aged (21-30) years, most (45.95%) of the mothers were married, most (40.54%) of the mothers breastfed their previous for a period of (7-12) months, (59.46%) of the respondents had the previous child alive, (40.54%) had lost their previous child; (51.35%) of the mothers had a preferred range of child spacing of less than 24 months; Most (59.46%) had good husband’s support towards child spacing, most (54.05%) of their husbands were employed, 64.86% of the mothers did not have health insurance coverage for their families, most (51.35%) of the mothers did not use contraceptives.
Conclusion
Individual factors associated with short child spacing, age at first marriage, employment status of husbands, and use of contraceptive methods of family planning.
Recommendation
Midwives, nurses, and other stakeholders should strengthen the family planning services in terms of quality and utilization.
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