Photo Credit: USAID IN AFRICA/FLICKR
A recent study showed that longer gaps between births can cut infant deaths in half in developing countries.
In parts of the world’s least-developed countries, spacing births at least two years apart can really help to cut down the infant mortality rates. But in more developed nations, increasing the interval between successful childbirths makes little difference to infant deaths.
This is prevalent because, in more developed nations, women are more likely to have stronger access to better nutritional and medical care. Short birth intervals in developing countries showed that women’s bodies had a much harder time recovering. They struggle to provide the essential nutrients to their babies.
Spreading out the births can allow for breast milk to be replenished and fill with the proper nutrients. In many countries, half of the babies were dying with quick intervals between births, but they saw that number significantly change with longer intervals.
The shrinking of birth intervals does remain a bit of a concern for some parts of the world. A study showed that rising fertility (attributed to shorter birth intervals) declines in postpartum abstinence rates and breastfeeding duration. Constant breastfeeding after giving birth can suppress fertility. Avoiding pregnancy during those first few months of taking care of a newborn can really save a lot of lives.
