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COMMENTARY
Open Access

The Open Birth Interval: A Resource for Reproductive Health Programs and Women's Empowerment

John Ross and Kristin Bietsch
Global Health: Science and Practice September 2019, 7(3):355-370; https://doi.org/10.9745/GHSP-D-19-00056
John Ross
aIndependent Consultant, New Paltz, NY, USA.
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  • For correspondence: rosshome8@frontiernet.net
Kristin Bietsch
bAvenir Health, Glastonbury, CT, USA.
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Figures & Tables

Figures

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  • FIGURE 1
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    FIGURE 1

    Distribution of Women of Reproductive Age by the Open Birth Interval in Nigeria and Indonesia

    a Based on latest Demographic and Health Surveys for Nigeria (2013) and Indonesia (2012).

  • FIGURE 2
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    FIGURE 2

    Distribution of Women of Reproductive Age by the Open Birth Interval in Bangladesh, Demographic and Health Surveys in 1993, 1996, 1999, 2004, 2007, 2011, and 2014

  • FIGURE 3
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    FIGURE 3

    Percentage of Women With a Child Below Age 5 in Sub-Saharan Africa Compared to Other Regions: 74 Countries, Latest Demographic and Health Surveys, Various Dates

  • FIGURE 4
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    FIGURE 4

    Distribution of Women by Open Birth Interval and Reproductive Health Status: 74 Countries, Latest Demographic and Health Surveys, Various Dates

  • FIGURE 5
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    FIGURE 5

    Distribution of Women by Open Birth Interval by Quarter Within the First Year After Birth, According to Reproductive Health Status: 74 Countries, Latest Demographic and Health Surveys, Various Dates

  • FIGURE 6
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    FIGURE 6

    Contraceptive Method Mix by Open Birth Interval: 74 Countries, Latest Demographic and Health Surveys, Various Dates

    Abbreviation: IUD, intrauterine device.

  • FIGURE 7
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    FIGURE 7

    Changes in the Percentage of Reproductive Age Women Who Are Pregnant or in the First Year After Birth, in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Pakistan, and Peru

  • FIGURE 8
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    FIGURE 8

    Comparison of Changes in the Percentage of Women Whose Youngest Child Is Over Age 5 and Changes in the Percentage of Women in the Labor Force, in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Pakistan, and Peru

  • FIGURE 9
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    FIGURE 9

    Relationship Between Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per Capita and Women's Childbearing

Tables

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    • View popup
    TABLE 1.

    Distribution of Women of Reproductive Age by Length of Open Interval, Latest Demographic and Health Surveys

    Length of Open Interval in YearsPercentage
    Pregnant/0–.925.6
    1.0–1.914.8
    2.0–2.910.1
    3.0–3.97.2
    4.0–4.95.6
    5.0–5.94.6
    6.0–6.94.5
    7.0–7.93.7
    8.0–8.93.2
    9.0–9.92.7
    10.0–10.92.6
    11.0–11.92.1
    12.0–12.92.0
    13.0–13.91.8
    14.0–14.91.5
    15+8.0
    Total100.00
    • View popup
    TABLE 2.

    Profiles of Women of Reproductive Age by Contraceptive Use, Unmet Need, and Intention to Use a Method: Unweighted Averages for 74 Countries, Latest Demographic and Health Surveys, Various Dates

    PregnantOpen Interval (Months)Total
    0–1112–2324–3536–4748–5960+
    All women8.417.614.910.27.25.636.1100.0
    Contraceptive use
    None15.820.512.17.25.24.135.1100.0
    Traditional14.718.113.28.87.038.2100.0
    Modern, short-acting16.820.915.510.67.428.8100.0
    Modern, long-acting7.512.712.09.38.150.4100.0
    Unmet need14.523.019.911.67.45.418.2100.0
    Spacing19.729.423.011.66.33.96.1100.0
    Limiting9.215.515.912.59.88.129.0100.0
    None9.319.715.911.58.36.328.9100.0
    Infecund0.02.21.81.31.51.691.6100.0
    Intention to use
    Using already13.918.614.29.97.336.1100.0
    Intends to use25.629.013.97.44.93.515.7100.0
    Does not intend7.213.110.67.05.44.552.2100.0
    • View popup
    TABLE 3.

    Correlation Coefficients Between Open Interval and the General Fertility Rate and the Total Fertility Rate: 74 Countries, Latest Demographic and Health Surveys, Various Datesa,b

    Length of Open Intervals (months)General Fertility RateTotal Fertility Rate
    <120.960.97
    <240.960.97
    <360.960.97
    <480.950.96
    <600.930.94
    60+(0.93)(0.94)
    • ↵a r values, when squared give R2 values.

    • ↵b Interval data are from the latest surveys in the 74 countries; fertility data are as issued by the United Nations as of approximately 2017.

    • View popup
    TABLE 4.

    Distribution of Women of Reproductive Age by the Length of the Open Birth Interval, According to the Total Fertility Rate: 74 Countries, Latest Demographic and Health Surveys, Various Datesa

    TFROpen Intervals (Months)Total
    Pregnant/1–1112–2324–3536–4748–5960+
    <314.29.47.96.75.855.9100.0
    3–3.923.413.910.47.96.338.1100.0
    4–4.930.617.211.68.25.926.7100.0
    >537.820.011.06.54.520.3100.0
    • Abbreviation: TFR, total fertility rate.

    • ↵a Interval data and TFRs are both from the latest surveys in 74 countries.

Additional Files

  • Figures
  • Tables
  • Supplemental material

    Files in this Data Supplement:

    • Supplement 1: Open Interval Distribution by Region and Year, 74 Countries, Latest Demographic and Health Surveys
    • Supplement 2: Open Intervals by Exclusive Statuses, by Region, Latest Surveys
    • Supplement 3: Open Interval Distributions by Personal Characteristics
    • Supplement 4: Curve-Fitting of the Open Interval Distribution
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Global Health: Science and Practice: 7 (3)
Global Health: Science and Practice
Vol. 7, No. 3
September 23, 2019
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The Open Birth Interval: A Resource for Reproductive Health Programs and Women's Empowerment
John Ross, Kristin Bietsch
Global Health: Science and Practice Sep 2019, 7 (3) 355-370; DOI: 10.9745/GHSP-D-19-00056

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The Open Birth Interval: A Resource for Reproductive Health Programs and Women's Empowerment
John Ross, Kristin Bietsch
Global Health: Science and Practice Sep 2019, 7 (3) 355-370; DOI: 10.9745/GHSP-D-19-00056
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