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Short Birth Intervals Less than 2 Years Double Under-One Mortality in Ethiopia: Evidence from a Meta- Analysis

Received: 14 October 2014     Accepted: 6 November 2014     Published: 20 November 2014
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Abstract

Introduction: Even though Ethiopia has been celebrating the achievements of MDG 4, still one in every 17 Ethiopian children dies before their first birthday. This is the biggest of the African regional average. Short birth interval has been inconsistently reported as a risk factor by limited and independent studies in Ethiopia. Therefore, the purpose of this meta-analysis was to determine the pooled effect of the preceding birth interval length on under- one mortality. Methods: Studies were accessed through the electronic web-based search mechanism from PUBMED, Advanced Google Scholar, WHO databases and journals: PLoS one, BMC using independent and combination of key terms. Comprehensive meta-analysis version 2 was used to analyze the data. An I2 test was used to assess heterogeneity. Publication bias was checked by using a funnel plot and the statistical significance by Egger’s test of the intercept. The final effect size was determined in the form of odds ratio by applying Duval and Tweedie's trim and fill analysis in the Random-effects model. Results: 872 studies were identified on the reviewed topic. During screening, forty five studies were found to be relevant for data abstraction. However, only five studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and included in the analysis. In all of the studies included in the analysis, the preceding birth interval had a significant association with under-one mortality. The final pooled effect size in the form of the odds ratio for under one mortality with a preceding birth interval of less than 24 months was found to be 2.03(95%CI: 1.52, 2.70,random effect(five studies, n=43,909), I2=70%, P<0.05). Conclusion: In Ethiopia, promoting the length of birth interval to at least two years was associated with the reduction of under one mortality by 50% (95%CI: 35%, 63%). Endorsement of family planning services at postpartum period by improving access and quality is highly recommended.

Published in Science Journal of Public Health (Volume 2, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.sjph.20140206.24
Page(s) 589-595
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2014. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Birth Interval, Under-One Mortality, META-Analysis

References
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    Abel Fekadu Dadi. (2014). Short Birth Intervals Less than 2 Years Double Under-One Mortality in Ethiopia: Evidence from a Meta- Analysis. Science Journal of Public Health, 2(6), 589-595. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140206.24

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    Abel Fekadu Dadi. Short Birth Intervals Less than 2 Years Double Under-One Mortality in Ethiopia: Evidence from a Meta- Analysis. Sci. J. Public Health 2014, 2(6), 589-595. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20140206.24

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    AMA Style

    Abel Fekadu Dadi. Short Birth Intervals Less than 2 Years Double Under-One Mortality in Ethiopia: Evidence from a Meta- Analysis. Sci J Public Health. 2014;2(6):589-595. doi: 10.11648/j.sjph.20140206.24

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  • @article{10.11648/j.sjph.20140206.24,
      author = {Abel Fekadu Dadi},
      title = {Short Birth Intervals Less than 2 Years Double Under-One Mortality in Ethiopia: Evidence from a Meta- Analysis},
      journal = {Science Journal of Public Health},
      volume = {2},
      number = {6},
      pages = {589-595},
      doi = {10.11648/j.sjph.20140206.24},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sjph.20140206.24},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sjph.20140206.24},
      abstract = {Introduction: Even though Ethiopia has been celebrating the achievements of MDG 4, still one in every 17 Ethiopian children dies before their first birthday. This is the biggest of the African regional average. Short birth interval has been inconsistently reported as a risk factor by limited and independent studies in Ethiopia. Therefore, the purpose of this meta-analysis was to determine the pooled effect of the preceding birth interval length on under- one mortality. Methods: Studies were accessed through the electronic web-based search mechanism from PUBMED, Advanced Google Scholar, WHO databases and journals: PLoS one, BMC using independent and combination of key terms. Comprehensive meta-analysis version 2 was used to analyze the data. An I2 test was used to assess heterogeneity. Publication bias was checked by using a funnel plot and the statistical significance by Egger’s test of the intercept. The final effect size was determined in the form of odds ratio by applying Duval and Tweedie's trim and fill analysis in the Random-effects model. Results: 872 studies were identified on the reviewed topic. During screening, forty five studies were found to be relevant for data abstraction. However, only five studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and included in the analysis. In all of the studies included in the analysis, the preceding birth interval had a significant association with under-one mortality. The final pooled effect size in the form of the odds ratio for under one mortality with a preceding birth interval of less than 24 months was found to be 2.03(95%CI: 1.52, 2.70,random effect(five studies, n=43,909), I2=70%, P<0.05). Conclusion: In Ethiopia, promoting the length of birth interval to at least two years was associated with the reduction of under one mortality by 50% (95%CI: 35%, 63%). Endorsement of family planning services at postpartum period by improving access and quality is highly recommended.},
     year = {2014}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Short Birth Intervals Less than 2 Years Double Under-One Mortality in Ethiopia: Evidence from a Meta- Analysis
    AU  - Abel Fekadu Dadi
    Y1  - 2014/11/20
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.sjph.20140206.24
    T2  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JF  - Science Journal of Public Health
    JO  - Science Journal of Public Health
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7950
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    AB  - Introduction: Even though Ethiopia has been celebrating the achievements of MDG 4, still one in every 17 Ethiopian children dies before their first birthday. This is the biggest of the African regional average. Short birth interval has been inconsistently reported as a risk factor by limited and independent studies in Ethiopia. Therefore, the purpose of this meta-analysis was to determine the pooled effect of the preceding birth interval length on under- one mortality. Methods: Studies were accessed through the electronic web-based search mechanism from PUBMED, Advanced Google Scholar, WHO databases and journals: PLoS one, BMC using independent and combination of key terms. Comprehensive meta-analysis version 2 was used to analyze the data. An I2 test was used to assess heterogeneity. Publication bias was checked by using a funnel plot and the statistical significance by Egger’s test of the intercept. The final effect size was determined in the form of odds ratio by applying Duval and Tweedie's trim and fill analysis in the Random-effects model. Results: 872 studies were identified on the reviewed topic. During screening, forty five studies were found to be relevant for data abstraction. However, only five studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and included in the analysis. In all of the studies included in the analysis, the preceding birth interval had a significant association with under-one mortality. The final pooled effect size in the form of the odds ratio for under one mortality with a preceding birth interval of less than 24 months was found to be 2.03(95%CI: 1.52, 2.70,random effect(five studies, n=43,909), I2=70%, P<0.05). Conclusion: In Ethiopia, promoting the length of birth interval to at least two years was associated with the reduction of under one mortality by 50% (95%CI: 35%, 63%). Endorsement of family planning services at postpartum period by improving access and quality is highly recommended.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 6
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, Ethiopia

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