Determinants of short birth interval among ever married reproductive age women living in Jigjiga, Eastern Ethiopia 2020 (unmatched case–control study)

OBJECTIVES: A short birth interval is a universal public health problem resulting in adverse maternal, neonatal, and child outcomes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify determinants of short birth interval among ever married reproductive age mothers who live in Jigjiga city administration, Eastern Ethiopia, 2020. METHODS: A community-based unmatched case–control study was used among 194 cases and 194 controls in Jigjiga city administration from September to December 2020. Cases were women with short birth interval (less than 3 years) and controls were women with optimum birth interval (3–5 years). Simple random sampling technique was employed to select cases and controls. Data were entered into Epi data version 4.2 and analysis with SPSS version 22. Binary logistic regression with 95% confidence interval at p < 0.05 is used to declare significantly associated predictors of short birth interval. RESULT: This study reported that women who have not attended formal education (adjusted odds ratio = 5.28, 95% confidence interval: (2.25–12.36)), attended primary education (adjusted odds ratio = 2.79, 95% confidence interval: (1.46–5.34)), women who married to a polygamous husband (adjusted odds ratio = 3.69, 95% confidence interval: (1.80–7.58)), having a history of neonatal death (adjusted odds ratio = 2.15, 95% confidence interval: (1.07–4.32)), preceding child being female (adjusted odds ratio = 3.69, 95% confidence interval: (2.02–6.72)), and never used contraceptive methods (adjusted odds ratio = 3.69, 95% confidence interval: (2.02–6.72)) were identified as determinants of the short birth interval. CONCLUSION: Short birth intervals were associated with educational level of the women, sex of the baby, husband marriage types, history of neonatal death, and contraceptive utilization. Strategy should be engaged to enhance women education, contraceptive uses, and to decrease neonatal death.