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Laureane Alvelo-Maldonado, Graduate School of Public Health, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, Plaza Universidad 2000, Aņasco 843 Apt. 1102-B, San Juan, PR 00925, (787) 366-5607, lory_dolphin@hotmail.com
Background: A short interpregnancy interval is one of the factors that have been recently associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. However, it is still unclear whether it is an independent risk factor or whether the association is due merely to confounding by maternal characteristics. Aim: To evaluate the association between short interpregnancy intervals and three perinatal outcomes (low birth weight, preterm birth and small size for gestational age) in Puerto Rican women aged 13-34 years. Methods: Birth certificates of women aged 13-34 years who delivered singleton infants during the period 1990 through 2002 in Puerto Rico were analyzed (409,317 live births). Three separate logistic-regression models were used to determine the magnitude of the association between short interpregnancy interval (<6 months), low birth weight (<2,500 g), preterm birth (<37 weeks of gestation) and SGA (<10th percentile of weight for infants with the same sex and gestational age) controlling for sociodemographics, toxic habits, reproductive history, obstetric history, medical risk factors during pregnancy, complications during labor and congenital anomalies. Results: As compared with women with 18-23 month interpregnancy intervals, those with <6 month intervals had higher risks of low birth weight (IOR =1.24, 95% CI=1.17-1.30), preterm birth (IOR=1.30, 95% CI=1.25-1.35) and SGA (IOR=1.28, 95% CI =1.23-1.33) after adjusting for potential confounders. Conclusions: Short interpregnancy intervals are significantly associated to perinatal outcomes. These data underscore the need to educate Puerto Rican women regarding birth spacing in order to achieve better pregnancy outcomes.
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Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.