Risk factors for short interpregnancy interval--Utah, June 1996-June 1997.

The Utah Medicaid program provides pregnancy-related coverage for women whose household incomes are < or =133% of the federal poverty level. For women who are not otherwise eligible, Medicaid coverage of family-planning and other services ends after the second calendar month following delivery. To assess whether increased access to family-planning services would benefit Medicaid recipients, the interpregnancy intervals (IPIs) of Utah residents whose most recent pregnancies were covered by Medicaid (Medicaid-recipient mothers) were compared with those of all other Utah resident mothers. This report summarizes the results of that study, which indicate that Medicaid-recipient mothers aged > or =20 years were at increased risk for having short IPIs, and may therefore benefit from extended Medicaid coverage or other means of assuring access to family-planning services.