BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to measure the association between protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) in children and their mothers' mental health, in a low income area in the city of Embú, São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: A case-control study was performed. Cases were 60 moderately and severely malnourished children (Gomez criteria) selected from two primary health care units. Controls consisted of 45 eutrophic children attending the same units. The main outcome measure was for the mothers to present a mental health score > 6 according with the 'Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Questionnaire' (QMPA), a psychiatric screening instrument. RESULTS: Of mothers of children with PEM, 63% and 38% of mothers in the control group were QMPA positive: odds ratio (OR) = 2.8 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2-6.9). Of PEM children, 27% had low birthweight (LBW = < 2500 g) and 6% of the control group had LBW. Interactions were found between: mothers' mental health and number of children (with > or = 4 children: OR = 20.0 [95% CI: 2.1-274.2], with < or = 3 children: OR = 1.6 [95% CI: 0.6-4.5), as well as mothers' mental health and maternal age (in women > 30: OR = 12.5 [95% CI: 2.0-93.4], in women < or = 30: OR = 1.5 [95% CI: 0.5-4.4]. CONCLUSIONS: Mothers of children with PEM showed a higher rate of mental disturbances than mothers of eutrophic children. Unlike LBW, maternal age and number of children interact with mothers' mental health, increasing the association. Management of poor mental health may lead to mothers being better caretakers of their children and this may have a positive impact on PEM.
BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to measure the association between protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) in children and their mothers' mental health, in a low income area in the city of Embú, São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: A case-control study was performed. Cases were 60 moderately and severely malnourished children (Gomez criteria) selected from two primary health care units. Controls consisted of 45 eutrophic children attending the same units. The main outcome measure was for the mothers to present a mental health score > 6 according with the 'Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Questionnaire' (QMPA), a psychiatric screening instrument. RESULTS: Of mothers of children with PEM, 63% and 38% of mothers in the control group were QMPA positive: odds ratio (OR) = 2.8 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2-6.9). Of PEM children, 27% had low birthweight (LBW = < 2500 g) and 6% of the control group had LBW. Interactions were found between: mothers' mental health and number of children (with > or = 4 children: OR = 20.0 [95% CI: 2.1-274.2], with < or = 3 children: OR = 1.6 [95% CI: 0.6-4.5), as well as mothers' mental health and maternal age (in women > 30: OR = 12.5 [95% CI: 2.0-93.4], in women < or = 30: OR = 1.5 [95% CI: 0.5-4.4]. CONCLUSIONS: Mothers of children with PEM showed a higher rate of mental disturbances than mothers of eutrophic children. Unlike LBW, maternal age and number of children interact with mothers' mental health, increasing the association. Management of poor mental health may lead to mothers being better caretakers of their children and this may have a positive impact on PEM.
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Keywords:
Age Factors; Americas; Biology; Birth Weight; Body Weight; Brazil; Case Control Studies; Child; Demographic Factors; Developing Countries; Diseases; Family And Household; Family Characteristics; Family Relationships; Health; Latin America; Low Birth Weight; Malnutrition; Mental Health--women; Mothers; Nutrition Disorders; Parents; Physiology; Population; Population Characteristics; Research Methodology; Research Report; South America; Studies; Youth
Authors: Sylvia Kaaya; Maria E Garcia; Nan Li; Jeffrey Lienert; William Twayigize; Donna Spiegelman; Mary C Smith Fawzi Journal: Matern Child Nutr Date: 2014-11-08 Impact factor: 3.092
Authors: Dirlane S Santos; Darci Neves Santos; Rita de Cássia Ribeiro Silva; Maria Helena Hasselmann; Maurício L Barreto Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2010-04-18 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Iná S Santos; Alicia Matijasevich; Marlos Rodrigues Domingues; Aluísio J D Barros; Fernando C F Barros Journal: J Pediatr Date: 2010-04-18 Impact factor: 4.406
Authors: Pamela J Surkan; Ichiro Kawachi; Louise M Ryan; Lisa F Berkman; Lina M Carvalho Vieira; Karen E Peterson Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2007-11-29 Impact factor: 9.308