Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42825259›Full record

ArticleBMJ public health2026

Association of short interpregnancy interval with low birth weight and preterm birth in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Habitamu Mekonen, Ahmed Fentaw, Almaw Genet Yeshiwas, Gashaw Melkie Bayeh, Tilahun Degu Tsega, Sintayehu Simie Tsega, Asaye Alamneh Gebeyehu, Amare Genetu Ejigu, Zeamanuel Anteneh Yigzaw, Abathun Temesgen and 9 more

Abstract read
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Article in BMJ public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

19 authors.

Habitamu MekonenHuman Nutrition, Debre Markos University College of Health Science, Debre Markos, Ethiopia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7660-1776
Ahmed FentawDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Injibara University, Injibara, Ethiopia.
Almaw Genet YeshiwasDepartment of Environmental Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Injibara University, Injibara, Ethiopia.
Gashaw Melkie BayehDepartment of Environmental Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Injibara University, Injibara, Ethiopia.
Tilahun Degu TsegaDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Injibara University, Injibara, Ethiopia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2388-3171
Sintayehu Simie TsegaDepartment of Medical Nursing, School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3798-0941
Asaye Alamneh GebeyehuDepartment of Public Health, College of Health Science, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Amare Genetu EjiguDepartment of Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Injibara University, Injibara, Ethiopia.
Zeamanuel Anteneh YigzawDepartment of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
Abathun TemesgenDepartment of Environmental Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Injibara University, Injibara, Ethiopia.
Anley Shiferaw EnawgawDepartment of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia.
Getasew YirdawDepartment of Environmental Health Science, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, P.O. Box 269, Ethiopia.
Chalachew YenewDepartment of Environmental Health Science, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Rahel Mulatie AntenehDepartment of Public Health, College of Health Science, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Berhanu Abebaw MekonnenDepartment of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
Meron Asmamaw AlemayehuDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1852-0771
Getaneh Atikilt YemataDepartment of Public Health, College of Health Science, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0879-3303
Zufan Alamrie AsmareDepartment of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine and Health Science, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Abebaw Molla KebedeDepartment of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Science, Injibara University, Injibara, Ethiopia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objectives: Evidence from developing countries showed that short interpregnancy intervals are associated with low birth weight (LBW) and preterm birth (PB). However, in Ethiopia, the association between short birth intervals and LBW and PB remains inconclusive. Therefore, this review aimed to provide a comprehensive nationwide estimate of the association between short interpregnancy intervals and LBW and PB in Ethiopia. Design: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Data sources: PubMed/Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane library, Google Scholar and institutional repositories were searched to retrieve relevant articles. Eligibility criteria: All observational studies conducted in Ethiopia that reported the association between short interpregnancy intervals and LBW, PB or both were included. Studies were excluded if they were animal studies, case reports, conference abstracts or had insufficient data to compute the required effect estimates. Data extraction and synthesis: Two independent reviewers extracted the data using a standardised data extraction form. Stata V.14 was used for data analysis. A random-effects model was applied to estimate the pooled association between short interpregnancy interval and LBW and PB, with 95% CIs. Results: Women with a short interpregnancy interval had 1.34 times higher odds of delivering an LBW infant (OR=1.34; 95% CI: 1.14 to 1.58) and 1.56 times higher odds of PB (OR=1.56; 95% CI: 1.27 to 1.92) compared with women with an optimal birth interval. Conclusions: Short interpregnancy interval was associated with an increased risk of LBW and PB. Therefore, community- and facility-based interventions promoting optimal birth spacing, alongside universal access to family planning services-including modern contraceptive methods and breastfeeding promotion-are recommended.

Indexed as

Community HealthNutrition AssessmentPublic HealthPublic Health PracticeRisk Assessment

Identifiers

PMID42825259
PMCPMC13629949

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