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Perinatal mental distress and infant morbidity in Ethiopia: a cohort study

Joanna Ross1, Charlotte Hanlon, Girmay Medhin

  • 1Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Archives of Disease in Childhood. Fetal and Neonatal Edition
|July 30, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Persistent perinatal common mental disorders (CMD) significantly increase infant diarrhea risk in Ethiopia. This association remained even when accounting for maternal health behaviors, highlighting a critical public health concern.

Area of Science:

  • Global Health
  • Perinatal Mental Health
  • Child Health

Background:

  • Common mental disorders (CMD) during pregnancy and postpartum periods are prevalent globally.
  • Infant health outcomes are influenced by various factors, including maternal mental well-being and health behaviors.
  • Ethiopia faces significant challenges in maternal and child health, necessitating research into risk factors for early infancy illnesses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of perinatal common mental disorders (CMD) in Ethiopia on the risk of infant diarrhea, fever, and acute respiratory illnesses (ARI).
  • To explore the potential mediating role of maternal health behaviors in the relationship between perinatal CMD and infant illnesses.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based cohort study was conducted in a rural demographic surveillance site in Ethiopia.
  • 1065 pregnant women were recruited, and 954 mother-infant pairs were followed up for the first two months of infancy.
  • Perinatal CMD symptoms were assessed using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20), with 'persistent' CMD defined as symptoms at both third trimester and 2 months postpartum.

Main Results:

  • 26.0% of infants experienced diarrhea, 25.0% had ARI, and 35.1% had fever.
  • Persistent perinatal CMD was associated with a 2.15 times increased risk of infant diarrhea (95% CI 1.39 to 3.34), independent of potential mediators like breastfeeding and hygiene.
  • No significant association was found between persistent perinatal CMD and infant ARI or fever after adjusting for confounders.

Conclusions:

  • Persistent perinatal common mental disorders are significantly associated with an increased risk of infant diarrhea in a low-income Ethiopian setting.
  • Maternal health-promoting practices did not mediate the observed relationship between perinatal CMD and infant diarrhea.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this association to inform effective intervention strategies for improving infant health.
Abstract

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