Author(s)

Chidebe Christian Anikwe^1*, Benjamin Samuel Umezuluike¹, Brown Nnamdi Ejikeme¹, Okechukwu Emmanuel Ndukwe¹, Bartholomew Chukwunonye Okorochukwu², Nworah Josaiah Obiechina³, Cyril Chijioke Ikeoha¹, Ogah Emeka Onwe⁴

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
²Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Nigeria.
³Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Awka, Nigeria.
⁴Department of Paediatrics, Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria.

Background: World over, there has being an improvement in birth spacing resulting in a reduction in the perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality rates. Objective: To appraise the factors influencing inter-pregnancy interval (IPI) among pregnant women receiving antenatal care at Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done among antenatal attendee, with at least one previous delivery, in Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki over a six month period using a structured questionnaire. Data obtained was analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 20. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 28.6 (95% CI 28.1 - 29.1) years. The majority (231, 70%) were multiparous. Most respondent (162, 49.1%) had their last delivery 6 - 12 months prior to conception. The significant determinants of IPI include: maternal age, marital status, place of residence, social class, baby’s sex, family income, use of contraceptive, parity and outcome of her last confinement. Contraceptive knowledge is high (300, 90.9%); more than 50% had the desire to use some form of contraceptive but majority (132, 40%) said they will never use contraceptive after delivery. Conclusions: Majority of the women had an IPI of 6 - 12 months. The major determinant of this includes having a live birth in last delivery, parity, marital status, and place of residence. The attitude to contraception is poor; effort needs to be directed into identifying the immediate and remote causes of this as this will help in proper education and counselling needed to increase contraceptive uptake.

Abakaliki, Contraceptive Usage, Inter-Pregnancy Intervals

Anikwe, C. , Umezuluike, B. , Ejikeme, B. , Ndukwe, O. , Okorochukwu, B. , Obiechina, N. , Ikeoha, C. and Onwe, O. (2018) Factors Influencing Inter-Pregnancy Interval among Antenatal Attendee in a Tertiary Hospital in Abakaliki, South-East, Nigeria. Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 8, 1364-1375. doi: 10.4236/ojog.2018.813138.