RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Short interpregnancy interval: circumstance or choice? JF BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health JO BMJ Sex Reprod Health FD British Medical Journal Publishing Group SP 110 OP 116 DO 10.1136/bmjsrh-2021-201269 VO 48 IS 2 A1 Rebecca Alexandra Margaret Taylor A1 Jenny M Yang A1 Kate Cheney A1 Kirsten Black YR 2022 UL http://jfprhc.bmj.com/content/48/2/110.abstract AB Introduction Despite the knowledge of pregnancy risks attributable to inadequate birth spacing, over one-third of pregnancies occur within 18 months of a preceding birth. In this qualitative study we sought to interview women with a short interpregnancy interval (sIPI) to explore their knowledge of contraception and birth spacing and their experience of counselling on these themes.Methods We conducted in-depth interviews with women with a sIPI (live-birth less than 18 months prior to conception of current pregnancy) at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Canterbury Hospital in Sydney, Australia. Women were recruited at the second antenatal visit or day 3 postpartum. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. The six-phase thematic analysis framework described by Braun and Clarke was used to perform qualitative data analysis.Results Twenty women were interviewed (IPI range: 3–18 months). The three central themes that arose were that perceptions of IPIs are shaped by individual circumstances, a lack of information from healthcare providers (HCPs) on IPI and contraception limited women’s ability to make informed decisions, and that reproductive life planning is an important element of pregnancy care.Conclusions In this study, women with a sIPI did not feel informed about birth spacing, had poor knowledge of reliable contraceptives, and remained at risk of further closely spaced pregnancies. There was a desire among women with a sIPI to receive clear and consistent education on these topics. HCPs need to do more to educate women in the antenatal and postnatal period to help them space their pregnancies appropriately.Data are available upon reasonable request. De-identified interviews are available upon reasonable request.