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Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
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Maternal depression increases infant risk of diarrhoeal illness: --a cohort study

A Rahman1, J Bunn, H Lovel

  • 1Human Development Research Foundation, Islamabad, Pakistan. atif.rahman@ntlworld.com

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|September 13, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Maternal depression significantly increases infant diarrhea risk in low-income settings. Child health programs should address mothers

Area of Science:

  • Global Health
  • Maternal and Child Health
  • Mental Health Research

Background:

  • Postnatal depression (PND) is a significant global health concern, particularly in low-income countries.
  • Infant diarrheal illness is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in developing regions.
  • The interplay between maternal mental health and infant physical health requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between maternal postnatal depression and infant diarrheal illness.
  • To assess this relationship in a low-income community in Pakistan.
  • To determine if the association persists after accounting for other risk factors.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective cohort study design was employed.
  • 265 infants and their mothers were recruited in rural Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
  • Mothers were assessed for depression at 3 months postpartum; infants were followed for 1 year, with diarrheal episodes recorded fortnightly.

Main Results:

  • Infants of mothers experiencing postnatal depression had significantly more diarrheal episodes annually (mean 5.5 vs. 4.0).
  • The relative risk of experiencing 5 or more diarrheal episodes was 2.3 times higher for infants of depressed mothers.
  • This association remained statistically significant after multivariate analysis adjusting for confounding factors.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal postnatal depression is a significant risk factor for infant diarrheal morbidity in low-income settings.
  • The link between maternal depression and infant diarrhea is independent of undernutrition, socioeconomic status, and parental education.
  • Integrated child health programs should incorporate maternal mental health screening and support.
Abstract

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