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Meta-Analysis
. 2015 May 22;10(5):e0126759.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0126759. eCollection 2015.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of short birth interval on infant mortality in Ethiopia

Abel Fekadu Dadi  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of short birth interval on infant mortality in Ethiopia

Abel Fekadu Dadi. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Introduction: Even though Ethiopia has been celebrating the achievements of MDG 4, still one in every 17 Ethiopian children dies before their first birthday. This is the biggest of the African regional average. Short birth interval is inconsistently reported as a risk factor by limited and independent studies in Ethiopia. Therefore, the purpose of this meta-analysis was to determine the pooled effect size of the preceding birth interval length on infant mortality.

Methods: Studies were accessed through the electronic web-based search mechanism from PUBMED, Advanced Google Scholar, WHO databases and journals: PLOS ONE, and BMC, using independent and combinations of key terms. Comprehensive meta-analysis version 2 was used to analyze the data. An I2 test was used to assess heterogeneity. Funnel plot and statistical significance by Egger's test of the intercept was used to check publication bias. The final estimate was determined in the form of odds ratio by applying Duval and Tweedie's trim and fill analysis in the Random-effects model.

Results: 872 studies were identified on the reviewed topic. During screening, forty-five studies were found to be relevant for data abstraction. However, only five studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. In all of the studies included in the analysis, the preceding birth interval had a significant association with under-one mortality. The final pooled estimate in the form of the odds ratio for infant mortality with a preceding birth interval of less than 24 months was found to be 2.03 (95% CI: 1.52, 2.70, random effect (five studies, n=43,909), I2=70%, P<0.05).

Conclusion: In Ethiopia, promoting the length of birth interval to at least two years lowered under-one mortality by 50% (95% CI: 35%, 63%).

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Flow diagram showing the procedure of selecting studies for meta-analysis, 2010–2013, Ethiopia.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Shows forest plot of five studies to show the effect of preceding birth interval on under-one mortality, 2010–2013, Ethiopia.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Shows funnel plot of five studies to show the effect of preceding birth interval on under-one mortality, 2010–2013, Ethiopia.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. United Nations General Assembly Convention of the Rights of the Child adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by the General Assembly resolution 44/25 of 20 November 1989
    1. UNICEF: Levels & Trends in Child mortality, estimate developed by the UN Interagency group for Child Mortality Estimation, 2012.
    1. Central Statistical Authority [Ethiopia]: Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey, 2000. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
    1. Central Statistical Authority [Ethiopia]: Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey, 2005. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
    1. Central Statistical Authority [Ethiopia]: Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey, 2011. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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