Effect of an older sibling and birth interval on the risk of childhood injury

SummaryTo examine the effects of birth spacing on early childhood mortality, 3729 singleton births in 1983–84 were followed for 3 years in rural Bangladesh. Logistic regression analyses were used to assess whether the survival of older siblings modifies the effect of preceding birth intervals and to see if the effects of preceding and succeeding birth intervals are inter-related, controlling for the effects of sex of the child, mother's age and household economic status. With the exception of the neonatal period, birth spacing effects were highly significant. A preceding birth interval of <15 months was associated with a greater mortality risk in the post-neonatal period for children with an older sibling who survived infancy. However, a short preceding birth interval did not adversely affect post-neonatal mortality if the older sibling died in infancy. Neonatal and post-neonatal deaths were higher if older siblings had died in respective age intervals. A pregnancy interval of <12 months after childbirth raised the risk of death at ages 1–2 years considerably if the child was born after a short birth interval (<15 months). The results suggest that the high mortality risks of closely spaced children are due to sibling competition for parental resources.

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The Crucial Role of Mothers and Siblings in Child Survival: Evidence From 29 Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa

Demography ◽

10.1215/00703370-9429499 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 58 (5) ◽

pp. 1687-1713

Author(s):

Philippe Bocquier ◽

Carren Ginsburg ◽

Ashira Menashe-Oren ◽

Yacouba Compaoré ◽

Mark Collinson

Keyword(s):

Child Mortality ◽

Birth Interval ◽

Child Survival ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Surveillance Systems ◽

Birth Intervals ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Demographic Surveillance Systems ◽

Older Sibling

Abstract A considerable body of research has studied the effects of siblings on child mortality through birth intervals. This research has commonly focused on older siblings. We argue that birth intervals with younger siblings may have equal or stronger effects on child mortality, even during a mother's pregnancy. Moreover, we contend that birth interval effects need to be considered only when siblings are coresident. Using longitudinal data from 29 Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems across sub-Saharan Africa, covering more than 560,000 children, we examine the proximate role of siblings and mothers in child mortality. We find that a birth interval of 24 months or more is advantageous for both older and younger siblings. The effect of a younger sibling on child mortality is more pronounced than that of an older sibling and adds to the effect of an older sibling. Moreover, child mortality is particularly low during a mother's subsequent pregnancy, contrasting the shock resulting from a younger sibling's birth. Further, we find that a mother's or sibling's absence from the household results in a higher risk of mortality, and the death of either reduces child survival up to six months before the death.

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Supplemental Material for Sibling Supervision: A Risk Factor for Unintentional Childhood Injury in Rural Uganda?

Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology ◽

10.1037/cpp0000252.supp ◽

2018 ◽

Keyword(s):

Risk Factor ◽

Childhood Injury

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CDC report on childhood injury: Protect the ones you love

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e572192009-005 ◽

2008 ◽

Keyword(s):

Childhood Injury

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1020 Children’s understanding of no diving warning signs: implications for preventing childhood injury

Injury Prevention ◽

10.1136/injuryprev-2016-042156.1020 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 22 (Suppl 2) ◽

pp. A363.3-A363

Author(s):

Barbara A Morrongiello ◽

Amanda Cox ◽

Rachel Scott ◽

Sarah E Sutey

Keyword(s):

Warning Signs ◽

Childhood Injury

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Determinants of short birth interval among women in South Gondar, Ethiopia: community-based unmatched case-control study

Archives of Public Health ◽

10.1186/s13690-021-00567-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 79 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Gedefaye Nibret Mihretie ◽

Fentahun Yenealem Beyene ◽

Bekalu Getnet Kassa ◽

Alemu Degu Ayele ◽

Tewachew Muche Liyeh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antenatal Care ◽

Birth Interval ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Birth Spacing ◽

Case Control ◽

Community Based ◽

Short Birth Interval ◽

South Gondar ◽

Control Study

Abstract Background The effect of short birth interval on socio-economic, negative maternal and child health outcomes remains common in developing countries. This study aimed to assess determinants of short birth interval among reproductive age women, who gave birth in health institution for last six-month in South Gondar, Ethiopia 2019. Methods Community-based unmatched case control study design was conducted from February 1 to March 30, 2019. Sample size of 150 was included by simple random sampling technique. The data was collected by semi-structured and pre-tested face to face interviewer-administered questionnaire from selected respondent. The collected data was entered with Epi-Data version 3.1 and analyzed by using SPSS version 23 software. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were used to examine the association. Odds ratio, 95% CI and P-value < 0.05 were used to determine the statistical association. Result The mean age of the respondents was 32.42 (SD ± 5.14) and 35.12 (SD ± 5.86) for cases and controls, respectively. Mothers not used contraceptives (AOR = 6.29, 95% CI (1.95, 20.24)), participants who had ≤2 alive children (AOR = 5.57, 95% CI (1.47, 21.13)), mothers who breast fed less than 24 months (AOR = 3.42, 95% CI (1.38, 8.46)), husband decision on contraceptives utilization (AOR = 2.69,95% CI (1.05,6.88)) and mothers who did not have history of antenatal care follow up (AOR = 3.52, 95% CI (1.27, 9.75)) were associated with short birth interval. Conclusion The optimum birth spacing plays a vital role in decreasing fertility and the morbidity and mortality of mothers and children. Thus, providing health information on the benefit of breast feeding, follow-up of antenatal care during pregnancy, use of contraceptives after delivery and encouraging mothers to make decisions about their own health and use of contraceptives to optimize birth spacing for rural communities.

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While inadequate birth interval becomes detrimental to health & nutritional outcome in infant and under-five year children; a systematic review through BLR and CPH model

Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health ◽

10.1016/j.cegh.2021.100714 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 100714

Author(s):

Tanu Das ◽

Tamal Basu Roy

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Birth Interval ◽

Nutritional Outcome ◽

Under Five

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Hi-tech Sexism? Evidence from Bangladesh

The B E Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy ◽

10.1515/bejeap-2019-0269 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Nazmul Hoque ◽

Bryan L. Boulier

Keyword(s):

Sex Determination ◽

Birth Interval ◽

Urban Women ◽

Hazard Model ◽

Modern Technology ◽

Son Preference ◽

Birth Intervals ◽

Selective Abortion ◽

China And India ◽

Missing Women

AbstractWith the advent of modern technology for fetal sex determination, selective abortion is found to be responsible for a significant number of “missing women” in countries like China and India. Using a competing risk hazard model, we investigate whether son preference translates into selective abortion and accounts for any of the “missing women” in Bangladesh. Data suggest that son preference leads to shorter birth intervals if previous births are girls. For example, if the first birth is a girl, the odds of having another child each quarter is about 15% higher and the birth interval is about 2 months shorter for more educated urban women in recent years (1990–2011). However, there is no evidence that selective abortion contributes to missing women in Bangladesh.

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Household structure, maternal characteristics and children’s stunting in sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from 35 countries

International Health ◽

10.1093/inthealth/ihz105 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sanni Yaya ◽

Olanrewaju Oladimeji ◽

Emmanuel Kolawole Odusina ◽

Ghose Bishwajit

Keyword(s):

Birth Interval ◽

Household Wealth ◽

Household Structure ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Physical Growth ◽

Multiple Birth ◽

Rural Children ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Ssa Countries ◽

Childhood Stunting

Abstract Background Adequate nutrition in early childhood is a necessity to achieve healthy growth and development, as well as a strong immune system and good cognitive development. The period from conception to infancy is especially vital for optimal physical growth, health and development. In this study we examined the influence of household structure on stunting in children <5 yrs of age in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries. Methods Demographic and Health Survey data from birth histories in 35 SSA countries were used in this study. The total sample of children born within the 5 yrs before the surveys (2008 and 2018) was 384 928. Children whose height-for-age z-score throughout was <−2 SDs from the median of the WHO reference population were considered stunted. Percentages and χ2 tests were used to explore prevalence and bivariate associations of stunting. In addition, a multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to stunted children. All statistical tests were conducted at a p<0.05 level of significance. Results More than one-third of children in SSA countries were reportedly stunted. The leading countries include Burundi (55.9%), Madagascar (50.1%), Niger (43.9%) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (42.7%). The percentage of stunted children was higher among males than females and among rural children than their urban counterparts in SSA countries. Children from polygamous families and from mothers who had been in multiple unions had a 5% increase in stunting compared with children from monogamous families and mothers who had only one union (AOR 1.05 [95% CI 1.02 to 1.09]). Furthermore, rural children were 1.23 times as likely to be stunted compared with urban children (AOR 1.23 [95% CI 1.16 to 1.29]). Children having a <24-mo preceding birth interval were 1.32 times as likely to be stunted compared with first births (AOR 1.32 [95% CI 1.26 to 1.38]). In addition, there was a 2% increase in stunted children for every unit increase in the age (mo) of children (AOR 1.02 [95% CI 1.01 to 1.02]). Multiple-birth children were 2.09 times as likely to be stunted compared with a singleton (AOR 2.09 [95% CI 1.91 to 2.28]). Conclusions The study revealed that more than one-third of children were stunted in SSA countries. Risk factors for childhood stunting were also identified. Effective interventions targeting factors associated with childhood stunting, such as maternal education, advanced maternal age, male sex, child’s age, longer birth interval, multiple-birth polygamy, improved household wealth and history of mothers’ involvement in multiple unions, are required to reduce childhood stunting in the region.

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