Psychosocial Factors Associated with Healthy and Unhealthy Interpregnancy Intervals.

Purpose: To examine the influence of psychosocial factors, including anxiety, depression, social support, maternal substance abuse, and intimate partner violence (IPV) on interpregnancy intervals (IPIs).

Methods

B'more for Healthy Babies-Upton/Druid Heights is part of a citywide initiative to improve the health of at-risk pregnant women and their children. Participants with at least one prior birth completed baseline, postpartum, and 3-month follow-up surveys with questions about pregnancy, medical, and psychosocial history. Associations between IPI and the independent variables were assessed using chi-square analysis and analysis of variance. Multivariable multinomial logistic regression models examined significant associations while controlling for other independent variables and potential confounders.

Results

Participants with current IPV were more likely to have a short IPI (odds ratio [OR]=13.1; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.07-158.9; p=0.04) than healthy IPI. Women with family social support were more likely to have a healthy IPI (OR=5.88, 95% CI=1.02-31.25, p=0.05) than those without family social support. Maternal anxiety and depression did not significantly influence IPI.

Conclusion

IPV increased the likelihood of having an unhealthy IPI among this population and family social support increased the likelihood of having a healthy IPI. Additional efforts to address IPV and enhance family social support may lead to improved pregnancy outcomes.