Revista Internacional de Salud Materno Fetal
Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Regarding Interpregnancy Spacing Among Antenatal Attendees in Ekiti State, Nigeria
By Gbenga Damilola Akinlua.
Abstract
Objective
The study assesses knowledge, attitudes and practices of interpregnancy spacing among women attending antenatal clinics in Ekiti State, Nigeria while examining the relationship between knowledge and reported spacing practices. Material and methods: The sample included a facility-based 366 pregnant women who were selected through systematic random sampling from secondary and tertiary health institutions across Ekiti State. A pre-tested interviewer questionnaire was used for the data collection. The data was described using frequencies, percentage, means and standard deviation. Statistical tools that were used were the chi-square test, crude odds ratio with 95% confidence interval and independent samples t-test at p<0.05.
Results
Although 255 (69.7%) respondents had heard of birth spacing, only 142 (38.8%) identified at least 24 months as the recommended interval before another pregnancy, and 128 (35.0%) had adequate overall knowledge. Positive attitudes were common (295/366, 80.6%). Among 247 women with a previous delivery, 172 (69.6%) reported an interval of at least 24 months. Knowledge level was not significantly associated with spacing practice (p=0.191; OR=0.66, 95% CI: 0.38–1.16). Only 118 (32.2%) had ever used a family-planning method, and 97 (26.5%) had discussed birth spacing with a healthcare worker.