PREGNANCY INTERVALS - THEIR DETERMINANTS AND FETAL-OUTCOME AT THE KCMC, MOSHI, TANZANIA

A total of 566 multigravidae who delivered at the Kilimanjaro Christia n Medical Centre (KCMC), Moshi, between 15th May and 30th July, 1989, were interviewed to determine the pregnancy intervals, their determina nts as well as foetal outcome. 62.1% of the study group had pregnancy intervals longer than 2 years. The factors which appeared to influence pregnancy interval in this study included maternal age, period of bre astfeeding, postpartum amenorrhoea, postpartum coital abstinence, cont raception and outcome of the preceding pregnancy. Other factors such a s maternal education, occupation, marital status, pregnancy order, and religion, did not appear to have any effect on the pregnancy interval s. The pregnancy interval did not seem to affect the outcome of the in dex pregnancy. It is recommended that those factors with a positive im pact on pregnancy interval be promoted as widely as possible in Tanzan ia, so as to contribute toward the control of population growth, as we ll as the overall maternal and child health, and national economy.