RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Maternal postnatal depression and children's growth and behaviour during the early years of life: exploring the interaction between physical and mental health
JF Archives of Disease in Childhood
JO Arch Dis Child
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP 690
OP 695
DO 10.1136/adc.2009.164848
VO 95
IS 9
A1 Bilal Avan
A1 Linda M Richter
A1 Paul G Ramchandani
A1 Shane A Norris
A1 Alan Stein
YR 2010
UL http://adc.bmj.com/content/95/9/690.abstract
AB Objective To assess the association between maternal postnatal depression and child behaviour problems and child growth at age 2 years Methods This was a longitudinal birth cohort study in Johannesburg, South Africa. Primary analysis on the ‘Birth to Twenty’ cohort was performed for the association between maternal postnatal depression and child behaviour problems (n=1035) and growth (n=891) at age 2 and subgroup analyses (n=635) were carried out to assess the role of poor child growth in this association. Main outcome measures were the association between maternal postpartum depression (measured at 6 months postnatally using the Pitt depression inventory) and child behaviour problems (Richman child behaviour scale) and child growth at age 2 years. Results Maternal postnatal depression was significantly associated with child behaviour problems at age 2, independent of socioeconomic status (β=0.353, p value=0.015). There was some evidence that children of depressed mothers were also at increased risk for having stunted growth, compared to non-depressed mothers (OR 1.61 (95% CI 1.02 to 2.56). The association between postnatal depression and child behavioural problems was significantly mediated by the stunted growth of the child (β=0.294, p value=0.111). Conclusions Maternal postnatal depression is associated with later child behaviour problems independent of the socioeconomic status of the family. This association is mediated by the child's growth, demonstrating the importance of considering a child's physical and mental health together.