RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Postnatal depression and infant growth and development in low income countries: a cohort study from Goa, India
JF Archives of Disease in Childhood
JO Arch Dis Child
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP 34
OP 37
DO 10.1136/adc.88.1.34
VO 88
IS 1
A1 V Patel
A1 N DeSouza
A1 M Rodrigues
YR 2003
UL http://adc.bmj.com/content/88/1/34.abstract
AB Background: Postnatal depression is a recognised cause of delayed cognitive development in infants in developed countries. Being underweight is common in South Asia.Aims: To determine whether postnatal depression contributes to poor growth and development outcomes in Goa, India.Methods: Cohort study for growth outcomes with nested case-control study for developmental outcomes. A total of 171 babies were weighed and measured at 6–8 weeks following birth. The following measures were used: Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale for maternal mood, and sociodemographic and infant health variables. Outcome measures were: weight (<5th centile), length (<5th centile), and Developmental Assessment Scale for Indian Infants scores at six months.Results: Postnatal depression was a strong, and independent, predictor of low weight and length and was significantly associated with adverse mental development quotient scores.Conclusions: This study provides evidence for the first time that postnatal depression, a potentially treatable disorder, is a cause of poor growth and development in South Asia.