Abstract

Background: High parity adversely affect both the family and the government to support a youthful population.

Aim: The present study aimed to examine the association of high parity with health, social and economic events among families in Mosul.

Method: The study applied a cross-sectional design and multi-stage stratified sampling technique in Mosul at the north of Iraq. Data collection continued almost ten months to complete the estimated sample size (from April, 1st 2011 till the end of Jan, 2012). Statistical equations estimated prevalence of high parity and determined the associated health and socio-economic events by applying chi square test.

Result: The study interviewed 1302 mothers in childbearing age. Prevalence of high parity was 27.8% mainly in suburban and rural areas (p=0.000). It was more frequently reported among mothers of lower social classes (p=0.001), consanguineous marriage (p=0.03), and early maternal and paternal marriage (p=0.000 and p=0.000). High parity was significantly associated with economic-inadequacy (p=0.000), over-crowding state (p=0.000), downward social transition (p=0.001), under five mortality (p=0.001), domestic physical violence (p=0.000), drop-out from primary school (p=0.000), smoking habit among siblings (p=0.000) and working children (p=0.000).

Conclusion: Almost three out of ten mothers, particularly in suburban and rural areas, were grand- or great grand multipara; a behaviour that significantly associated with health and socio-economic penalties.

Keywords: Health care; Education policy; Public health