Why World Vision supports healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies to improve maternal and child health: a faith-based perspective

SUMMARY

World Vision, A Christian humanitarian organization, began to support Birth Spacing in 2007.  After new data were published in 2008 that measured the impact of the length of the preceding birth-to-pregnancy (birth to conception) interval on maternal, infant and child mortality and child stunting, World Vision adopted the term “Healthy Timing and Spacing of Pregnancy” as their approach to family planning.  This term refocused family planning to emphasized the health benefits for mothers, children, families and communities, of using contraception to time and space births.  The data are explained and the consequences of shorter and longer birth intervals are outlined.