Fagbamigbe, A. F.Ojo, A. E.Onyeike, N. O.Okafor, I. P.Atilola, S. O.Olabuyi, R. A.Afolabi, R. F.2026-03-0620200309-3913ui_art_fagbamigbe_survival_2020African Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences 49(1), pp. 241-252https://repository.ui.edu.ng/handle/123456789/13086Background: Birth spacing, especially between first and second births, could impact on fertility, and on maternal and child health. While the interval between marriage and first-birth has been widely studied, information on intervals between first and second births (SBI) and its determinants is scarce. We investigated the timing of second childbirth and its determinants among women in Nigeria. Methods: Using the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, we analysed data on 27451 women of reproductive age who had reported at least one childbirth as of the survey date. We used Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional-hazard regression with 95% confidence interval (CI) computed. Results: The median SBI among women in Nigeria was 34 months (CI: 33.7–34.3). The hazard of second-birth was higher among women from rural (HR=1.161; CI: 1.13-1.19) compared to those from the urban areas. While women living in other regions had tendencies to shorten SBI compared with the North Central, those from South West were 9% (aHR=0.91; CI: 0.86–0.96) less likely to delay it. For every one year age-at-first birth delayed among women, the hazard of second-birth increased by 1.9%. Wealth status, contraceptive use, being employed, higher education among women and spouses, and first-child survival are protective of SBI. Conclusions: Contraceptive use, being employed, living in an urban area, belonging to higher wealth quintile and higher educational attainment could lead to longer second birth interval which could lead to a healthier child, safer motherhood, and reduced fertility. Women should be encouraged to delay SBI as a fertility-control-strategyenHazard ratioSecond birth intervalKaplan MeierCox-regressionMedian survival timeArticle