Background: Birth spacing is defined as the time interval between the previous child births to the conception of the next child. According to WHO: a) Ideal spacing after a live birth is minimum 24 months. b) Ideal spacing after an abortion is minimum 6 months. And less than or equal to 18 months is risk for - high infant mortality rate, neonatal mortality rate, perinatal mortality rate, low birth weight, small for gestational age, preterm delivery. Objectives: To find the association between birth interval and growth of younger child. And to assess the stress level of mothers. Methods: A community based descriptive cross-sectional study conducted rural area of Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh from June 2025 to September 2025. Participants are recruited by simple random sampling, and data collection done by semi structured questionnaire through house-to-house visits. Results: majority of participants are having inadequate spacing 137 (57.1%) followed by adequate spacing 103 (42.9%). The participants with inadequate spacing, found that 24.8% of children moderately stunting and 5.1% severe stunting and 26.2% of children moderately underweight and 8.8% were severe underweight. Conclusion: A short birth interval/ Inadequate birth spacing is a most influencing factor on child growth especially younger child and also effect on maternal health physically as well as mentally. So that awareness and knowledge about birth spacing is very important to improve maternal health and reduce the MMR, IMR etc.

Birth spacing, stress levels, maternal outcomes, perceived stress scale, cross sectional study