Mrinalini D. Motlag1 , Bhakti Gopal Gurjar2 , Deepti Diliprao Kadam3
BACKGROUND Short interconception period affects maternal health & foetal wellbeing. We wanted to study effect of Short Interconception Period (ICP) on maternal and foetal outcome and maternal quality of life as assessed by WHO-QOL BREF questionnaire. METHODS This case control study was conducted among 67 antenatal patients at a tertiary care centre in central India. Antenatal woman with Short ICP was defined as one with Last menstrual period within 18 months from last live / stillbirth. Group A (cases) comprised of 32 consecutive patients who had short ICP. Group B (controls) comprised of 35 consecutive patients with normal ICP. RESULTS Mean triceps fold thickness, a measure of nutritional status of the mother, was less in Group A with statistically significant difference (p value 0.03). Preterm labour, gestational hypertension and anaemia were commoner in Group A with statistically significant difference (p values 0.0230, 0.0462 and 0.0183 respectively). Low birth weight neonates and intrauterine growth retardation were more common in Group A with statistically significant difference as per Chi square test (p value 0.005 and 0.02 respectively). Women of both groups were satisfied with their health status as per WHOQOL-BREF, though women with normal ICP had statistically insignificant lower psychological, physical and environmental domain scores. CONCLUSIONS There is a need for improvement in interpregnancy services with emphasis on contraception and nutritional supplementation.
