Data Highlight: Oklahoma ranks 39 (of 51) for healthy birth spacing. Massachusetts ranks first with only 5.1 percent of women birth spacing less than eighteen months, and Mississippi has the most room for improvement with 9.7 percent of women birth spacing less than eighteen months.8
DEFINITION
Birth spacing refers to the time from one child’s birth until the next pregnancy, also known as the interpregnancy interval. 18 months is generally considered adequate time for a next birth to occur. These data are from 2019. These data represent the number of women birth spacing less than eighteen months. 8
Lookbook Vol. 2
Healthy Birth Spacing
OKLAHOMA 8.1 percent
NATIONAL AVERAGE 7.1 percent
Why We Care: Pregnancies that start less than 18 months after a previous birth are associated with delayed prenatal care and adverse birth outcomes. These unfavorable birth outcomes include preterm birth, neonatal morbidity, and low birthweight .70 In addition, children born without at least 18 months of birth spacing are at greater risk of developing asthma, vision and hearing loss, and may experience developmental delays. Between 2006 and 2010, about 33 percent of pregnancies nationwide were not adequately spaced, a practice that can put both the mother and baby at risk .70,71
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What We Can Do: - Support organizations that promote scientific, evidence-based prenatal and perinatal practices - Providers can discuss and help women develop contraception plans and birth spacing options during prenatal visits
