REEXAMINATION OF INTERPREGNANCY INTERVALS AND SUBSEQUENT BIRTH OUTCOMES - EVIDENCE FROM US LINKED BIRTH INFANT DEATH RECORDS/

This study examines the net effects of the interpregnancy interval (ti me period from one birth to the next pregnancy) on the risks of preter m birth, intrauterine growth retardation, and infant mortality, for bl acks and whites separately, using data from 1991 U.S. Linked Birth-Inf ant Death files. Results show that short (less than 7 months) and long (61+ months) intervals between pregnancies raise the risk of preterm birth and intrauterine growth retardation for both race groups, though the increase in risk is generally less than 30 per cent. Short interv als also raise (slightly) the risk of infant mortality after controlli ng for birthweight and gestational age.