Pregnancy interval and delivery outcome among HIV‐seropositive and HIV‐seronegative women in Kisumu, Kenya

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Abstract
Summary: Objective  A short pregnancy interval (PI) has been associated with increased child mortality, but mechanisms are unclear. We studied factors associated with PI and the effect of PI on birthweight and haemoglobin.Methods  Information was analysed from 2218 multigravidae who were recruited at the prenatal clinic (1758) or in the labour ward (460) of the Provincial Hospital in Kisumu between June 1996 and July 2000 for a study to assess the interaction between placental malaria and vertical HIV transmission.Results  The HIV prevalence was 28.9%. HIV seropositivity, older age, being unmarried, and Conclusion  Public health efforts to ensure ‘adequate’ birth spacing may run contrary to family planning decisions to replace a deceased child and may be spent on prenatal issues like prevention of anaemia, and vertical HIV transmission.