Abstract
Prior research indicates that closely spaced births are associated with poor outcomes for the mother and subsequent child.
Limited research has focused on outcomes for the index child (the child born immediately prior to a subsequent child in a
birth interval). The objectives are to assess the association of short birth intervals in at-risk families with: (1) indicators
of harsh and neglectful parenting behaviors towards the index child, including substantiated maltreatment reports across 6 years;
and (2) the index child’s behavior and development in first grade. This is a longitudinal study of 658 women screened to be
at-risk for child maltreatment. Twenty percent of women had a rapid repeat birth (RRB), defined as the birth of a subsequent
child within 24 months of the index child. Generalized estimating equations, survival analyses, and linear and logistic regression
models were used to assess the associations between RRB and index child outcomes. Women with an RRB were more likely than
those without an RRB to report neglectful parenting of the index child. Children of mothers with an RRB were more likely than
children of mothers without an RRB to have more behavioral problems and lower cognitive functioning in first grade. This study
is among the first to focus on the associations of birth spacing with maltreatment, behavior and development outcomes in the
index child. Future work regarding the effects of birth spacing should include a focus on the index child.
Limited research has focused on outcomes for the index child (the child born immediately prior to a subsequent child in a
birth interval). The objectives are to assess the association of short birth intervals in at-risk families with: (1) indicators
of harsh and neglectful parenting behaviors towards the index child, including substantiated maltreatment reports across 6 years;
and (2) the index child’s behavior and development in first grade. This is a longitudinal study of 658 women screened to be
at-risk for child maltreatment. Twenty percent of women had a rapid repeat birth (RRB), defined as the birth of a subsequent
child within 24 months of the index child. Generalized estimating equations, survival analyses, and linear and logistic regression
models were used to assess the associations between RRB and index child outcomes. Women with an RRB were more likely than
those without an RRB to report neglectful parenting of the index child. Children of mothers with an RRB were more likely than
children of mothers without an RRB to have more behavioral problems and lower cognitive functioning in first grade. This study
is among the first to focus on the associations of birth spacing with maltreatment, behavior and development outcomes in the
index child. Future work regarding the effects of birth spacing should include a focus on the index child.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-8
- DOI 10.1007/s10995-011-0909-3
- Authors
- Sarah Shea Crowne, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 200 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Kay Gonsalves, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 200 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Lori Burrell, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 200 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Elizabeth McFarlane, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 200 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Anne Duggan, Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 200 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Journal Maternal and Child Health Journal
- Online ISSN 1573-6628
- Print ISSN 1092-7875