Birth spacing and associated factors among mothers of children with severe acute malnutrition in Odabultum woreda, West Hararghe zone, Oromia regional state, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Birth spacing is a gap between two consecutive births which refers to resting period that allows the mother time to recover from pregnancy and labor. The World Health Organization recommends a birth interval of at least 33 months before the next child. Although optimal birth spacing (3-5 years), is one of the key strategies to improve nutritional status of children, level of birth spacing among mother of children with severe acute malnutrition is rarely addressed.