Patterns of Inter-Pregnancy Intervals and their Associated Factors among Childbearing Women in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Purpose: The study assessed the patterns of inter-pregnancy intervals and the associated factors amongst childbearing women in Ibadan. Methodology: The research utilized a descriptive cross-sectional design. The study population comprises women who attended post-natal and infant welfare clinics at University College Hospital, Ibadan, Adeoyo Maternity Teaching Hospital, Ibadan, and Ojoo Primary Health Centre, Ibadan. A simple random sampling method was used to select all the eligible participants who met the inclusion criteria for the study. The sample size of 227 was determined using Fisher's formula with 18% modern contraceptive rate. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Analysis was done using IBM-SPSS version 22.0 software. Findings are presented using descriptive and inferential statistics at 0.05 level of significance. Findings: Results revealed that 58.1% of women had optimal inter-pregnancy interval (24-59 months). The majority of the women (79.7%) also used short acting contraceptives methods. The most significant factor associated with the patterns of inter-pregnancy intervals is socio-economic factor. There was a significant association between parity and inter-pregnancy interval (p=0.046). Meanwhile, there is no significant associations between inter-pregnancy interval and child spacing methods (p value= 0.648); inter-pregnancy interval and age of the women (p value=0.49). Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: This study reveals that suboptimal inter-pregnancy intervals in Ibadan are shaped by socio-economic factor. The findings extend existing demographic transition theory by contextualizing birth spacing within a Nigerian urban setting. Consequently, this evidence urges targeted health policy revisions and empowers nursing practice to integrate culturally sensitive family planning counselling into routine maternal and child health services.