ABSTRACT

Objectives: To compare the perinatal outcome (low birth weight, preterm delivery) in women with <6 month versus 12-17 months of interpregnancy birth interval.

Material and methods: This Cohort study was conducted at Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lahore General Hospital Lahore from March 2020 to September 2020. Total 420 patients with age range 18-40 years, singleton pregnancy, women with previous live birth, parity 1-4 and Gestational age > 28 weeks assessed on LMP were selected for this study. Patients were divided into two groups (A & B) according to their inter-pregnancy interval i.e. <6 months group labelled as A group and 12-17 months group labelled as B group.  All patients in both groups will be followed till delivery and the perinatal outcome i.e. preterm delivery (birth occurred before completion of 37 weeks of gestation) and low birth weight (those babies whose weight less than 2.5 Kg at the time of birth) were noted.

Results: The mean age of women in group A was 26.73 ± 6.56 years and in group B was 26.73 ± 6.56 years. The perinatal outcome was preterm delivery in 189 (90.0%) and low birth weight babies in 143 (68.10%) women of <6 months while in 12-17 months interpregnancy interval, it was noted in 111 (52.86%) and 102 (48.57%) women respectively

Conclusion: Our study concluded that appropriate inter pregnancy interval could reduce the rate of preterm delivery and low birth weight babies and optimal interval associated with the lowest risk of adverse perinatal outcome was 12-17 months.