COMPARISON OF SHORT BIRTH INTERVAL PRACTICES AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND NON-HEALTH PROFESSIONAL CIVIL SERVANTS WOMEN IN ASELLA TOWN, SOUTHEAST ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Birth interval is the time period between two successive births. There is a limited study on short birth interval among civil servants in Ethiopia. Objective: To compare magnitude of short birth interval practice and its associated factors among health professional and non-health professional civil servant women in Asella town Southeast Ethiopia from October 12, 2024 to November 12, 2024. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted using a simple random sampling technique to select 418 women civil servants. Data was collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire, and entered using Epi data 4.6 and analyzed using SPSS 25. A binary logistic regression model was used to identify the association factors. AOR with a 95% CI were estimated strength of associations, and significance was declared at a p–value < 0. 05. Results: The magnitude of short birth interval of non-health professional was 35.6% (95% CI: 29-42.1%) compared to 31.9% (95% CI: 25.6-38.3%) for health professional and no difference in statistically significant. Having a female preceding child (AOR=2.30, 95% CI: 1.16-4.54), having parity two (AOR=3.01, 95% CI: 1.10-8.21) and not using contraceptives (AOR=2.13, 95% CI: 1.06-4.27) were factors associated with short birth intervals among female health professionals. Being age 25-34 (AR=2.73, 95% CI: 1.29, 5.79), having a female preceding child (AOR=2.07, 95% CI: 1.07-3.98), not using contraceptives (AOR=2.43, 95% CI: 1.10-5.37), and breastfeeding for less than 12 months (AOR=2.75, 95% CI: 1.05-7.21) were associated with short birth intervals among female non-health professionals. Conclusion and recommendation: The study shows that the magnitude of short birth interval practices was higher among in non-health professional compared to health professional women. Having a female preceding child, having two parities, and not using contraceptives were significantly associated factors among female health professionals, whereas maternal age 25-34 years, having a female preceding child, not using contraceptives, and having a duration of breastfeeding less than 12 months were significantly associated factors of short birth intervals among female non-health professionals. Therefore, awareness about modern contraceptive utilization and the importance of breastfeeding as a birth spacing mechanism are recommended. Keywords: Short birth interval, Civil servants, Health professional, Ethiopia