THE ROOT CAUSES OF LOW UPTAKE OF MODERN BIRTH SPACING METHODS

Birth spacing is a family planning practice that denotes the duration of time between two consecutive pregnancies or births. It is also known as the inter-pregnancy or inter-birth interval. The World Health Organization recommends an ideal interval of 24 months and no fewer than 18 months. The median birth interval in Puntland is 21 months (PLSHDS, 2020).

Executive Summary Birth spacing is a family planning practice that denotes the duration of time between two consecutive pregnancies or births. It is also known as the inter-pregnancy or inter-birth interval. The World Health Organization recommends an ideal interval of 24 months and no fewer than 18 months. The median birth interval in Puntland is 21 months (PLSHDS, 2020). Puntland has one of the highest fertility rates with a TFR of 6.8, and one of the lowest rates of contraceptive use with CPR of 8 percent (PLHDS, 2020), resulting in poor reproductive health indicators for women and high neonatal mortality. Birth spacing and the use of modern birth spacing methods is essential in slowing unsustainable population growth and reduction of neonatal mortality and maternal morbidity and mortality by preventing ill-timed pregnancies and births. Among the currently married women, only 1.2 percent are using a modern birth spacing method. The median birth interval is 21months (PLHDS, 2020).