THE IMPACT OF SHORT INTERPREGNANCY INTERVALS ON PREGNANCY OUTCOMES INA LOW-INCOME POPULATION

Objectives. The objective of this study was to determine whether the l ength of the interval between pregnancies was associated with either p reterm birth or intrauterine growth retardation in a law-income, large ly Black population. Methods. Thr study population consisted of 4400 w omen who had received prenatal care in county clinics and had two cons ecutive singleton births between 1980 and 1990. Results.. Interpregnan cy intervals were positively associated with age and negatively associ ated with the trimester in which care was initiated in the second preg nancy, Whites had shorter intervals than non-Whites, nle percentage of preterm births increased as the length of the interpregnancy interval decreased, but only ol women who had not had a previous preterm birth . The association between interval and preterm birth was maintained wh en other factors associated with preterm birth were controlled. There was no significant relationship bi tween intrauterine growth retardati on and interpregnancy interval. Conclusions. Women, particularly those who art:poor and young, should be advised of the potential harm to th eir infants of short interpregnancy intervals.