Maternal Depression May Impede Child Health Prevention Practices

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Maternal depression may significantly impede health promotion and disease prevention practices that safeguard child health, according to a study published in the May issue of Pediatrics. Mothers reporting a high level of depressive symptoms reported significantly poorer prevention practices for car seat use, covering electrical plugs, having syrup of ipecac in the home, and daily reading to their children. Using results from two national surveys of the same group of women conducted at two different points in time, the authors found that 23.5% of the women reported symptoms of depression during either survey, and 8.5% indicated depression during both surveys.

According to the study, women in general frequently do not engage in four commonly recognized prevention behaviors. The authors learned that

• 43% of the sample of women studied said they covered all accessible electrical plugs;
• 40% of the sample said they had syrup of ipecac in their homes;
• 50% of the sample read to their children on a daily basis; and
• a little more than half of the sample reported always using car seats.

While these percentages are low overall, the depressed women in the sample were significantly less likely to engage in these behaviors.

The authors examined the correlation between factors including cohabitation, age, education levels, and sociodemographic factors and the rates of engaging in prevention behaviors. Variables demonstrating a consistent relationship across all four prevention practices were income and cohabitation status, with lower incomes and the lack of a male partner being associated with reduced rates of prevention practices. Higher levels of maternal income were associated with increased rates of prevention practices. Finally, even when other sociodemographic factors were adjusted for, "being black was consistently related to poor practices."

Observing that maternal depression appears to be one of many factors that affects the rates of prevention practices, the authors state that "Maternal depression should be considered in addition to traditional barriers, such as knowledge deficits and low income." They write, "Child health practitioners should inquire about maternal depression when poor adherence to prevention practices has been detected, or better yet, they should address maternal depression prophylactically before poor adherence develops."

McLennan JD, Kotelchuck M. 2000. Parental prevention practices for young children in the context of maternal depression. Pediatrics 105(5):1090-1095.

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MCH Alert. 2001. Arlington, VA: National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health. http://www.ncemch.org/alert.