At least 300,000 women die from problems linked to birth spacing in the country every year, the Ministry of Health has said.

It says most of the cases involve mothers below the age of 18.

Reproductive Health Director General in the ministry Dr. Alex Damiti says almost one million children are left motherless every year due to the maternal deaths.

He told Eye Radio these cases can be avoided if women practice child spacing of at least two years.

“For health reasons, no girl should conceive before the age of 18, and limit the total number of pregnancies to four,” Dr Damiti warned.

When births are spaced 2 and 1/2 years to 3 years apart there is less risk of infant and child death, according to US health experts.

There is also lower risk of the baby being underweight.