H M Laughlin, K Khan, F Rashid, A Scarbrough, J R Bick
{"title":"Social and Economic Correlates of Prenatal Depression in Rural Bangladeshi Women.","authors":"H M Laughlin, K Khan, F Rashid, A Scarbrough, J R Bick","doi":"10.1007/s10995-025-04087-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-025-04087-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Prevalence rates of perinatal depression are especially high among women living in lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) when compared to higher-income countries. This is especially true for women living in Bangladesh, an LMIC in South Asia, a country that has limited mental health infrastructure and high rates of poverty. Women living in rural, impoverished communities in Bangladesh have been identified as being at high risk for prenatal depression. However, there is limited understanding of variability of prevalence rates across rural communities. To address this gap in understanding, we examined prevalence rates and correlates of prenatal depression among women living in two rural Bangladesh communities, Matlab and Ariahizar.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>During a prenatal health care visit, 60 women in two rural communities in Bangladesh, completed a survey battery asking about household income, education, depression symptoms, autonomy over household technology, and financial decision-making ability.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>On average, prenatal depression was experienced by 31.6%, of women enrolled in this study, although rates varied significantly across communities. Around 50% of all women in the higher-risk, more underserved, Arihaizar community experienced clinically significant symptoms of prenatal depression in comparison with only 13.3% of women who experienced clinically significant levels of prenatal depression in Matlab, a higher resourced rural community. Across both communities, perceived autonomy and independence (based on reports of having control over resources in the home) were associated with lower depression symptoms.</p><p><strong>Conclusions for practice: </strong>Prevalence of prenatal depression is highest in the most underserved communities. Additionally, we found preliminary associations between women's autonomy and depression during pregnancy.</p>","PeriodicalId":48367,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143732490","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Correction: Evaluation of Prescription Practices for Antenatal Steroids in Pregnant.","authors":"Antalya Jano, Caroline Madigan, Paris Ekeke","doi":"10.1007/s10995-025-04088-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10995-025-04088-5","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48367,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143722029","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lindsey Palmer, Sarah Font, Julia Reddy, Rebecca Rebbe, Eunhye Ahn
{"title":"Infants in the Child Welfare System: Exposure and Risks of Parental Alcohol and Drug Misuse.","authors":"Lindsey Palmer, Sarah Font, Julia Reddy, Rebecca Rebbe, Eunhye Ahn","doi":"10.1007/s10995-025-04085-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-025-04085-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To document the prevalence of parental alcohol and drug misuse (PADM) in infants' first and subsequent child welfare cases, and to assess the risk of subsequent injury for infants exposed to PADM.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study used linked Medicaid and child welfare system (CWS) data in Pennsylvania to identify all children born between 2016 and 2018 who had a confirmed CWS case by age one (N = 20,998). The injury analyses focused on children whose initial case included PADM and who were covered by Medicaid at birth (N = 11,180). Survival analyses and Cox Proportional Hazard models were used to assess risk of any physical harm, severe harm and head injuries among infants who remained in home following PADM exposure.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Study documented that 64% of infants' first cases included PADM. Infants with a PADM case who remained at home (versus entered care) were at increased risk of experiencing subsequent physical harm, severe physical harm, and head injuries. Few differences in harm outcomes were observed between infants with and without medically diagnosed prenatal substance exposure.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act instructs medical professionals to create 'plans of safe care' for infants affected by substances, however, limitations in PADM identification as well as an insufficient public health response has resulted in many families not receiving the support and services needed. Coordinated efforts are needed to prevent, detect, and treat substance use disorders.</p>","PeriodicalId":48367,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143732458","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Brief Report of Self-Care Practices and Respite Use Among Hispanic/Latina Mothers of Children with Developmental Disabilities.","authors":"Jessica Gutierrez, Athena K Ramos","doi":"10.1007/s10995-025-04081-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-025-04081-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Caring for a child with disabilities is challenging and sometimes overwhelming. Self-care and use of respite services can be important strategies for caregivers to relieve stress, prevent burnout, and reduce the risk of poor physical and mental health. Little is known about the use of self-care and respite care services among Hispanic/Latino caregivers of children with developmental disabilities.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The purpose of this study was to identify: (1) if Hispanic/Latina mothers of children with developmental disabilities in Nebraska practiced self-care or used respite support services, (2) what types of self-care practices were used, and (3) what if anything prevented these mothers from practicing self-care or using respite services.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 75 Hispanic/Latina mothers were interviewed between August-September 2022.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We found that 73.3% of participants reported practicing self-care, but even more (80%) reported engaging in specific self-care activities. Participants who were living in the United States without legal permission were significantly less likely to report practicing self-care compared to those who were U.S. citizens, residents, or were in process for residency (38.2% vs. 61.8%), p = .02. Only 6.8% of participants reported using respite services. Of those who did not use respite services, 60% reported that they did not know about such services.</p><p><strong>Conclusions for practice: </strong>Promoting the availability of supportive resources for caregivers in culturally, linguistically, and contextually relevant formats (especially those that are available regardless of immigration status) could be valuable. Institutionalizing caregiver navigation programs and addressing cultural and structural barriers to respite service uptake could have positive benefits for caregivers of children with disabilities.</p>","PeriodicalId":48367,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143732438","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Evaluation of Group Therapy Intervention for Anxiety and Depression in the Postnatal Period.","authors":"Jessica Appleton, Cathrine Fowler, Lisiane Latouche, Jenny Smit, Margaret Booker, Greg Fairbrother","doi":"10.1007/s10995-025-04076-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-025-04076-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Effective interventions for the prevention and treatment of postnatal depression and anxiety are important for family functioning and infant development. Group psychotherapy is one such intervention used in the postnatal period. This evaluation tests the efficacy of an eight-week group psychotherapy on participants' symptoms of postnatal depression and anxiety. The study also reports on the addition of a sequential attachment-based parenting program on participants' symptoms of depression and anxiety.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study setting was a child and family health service in New South Wales, Australia. 141 women participating in a group psychotherapy program consented to participate in the study. A pre-test post-test design with four week follow up was used. Depression was measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and anxiety with the anxiety subscale (EPDS-3a). Repeated measures analysis of variance and multiple factorial mixed analysis of variance were conducted.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean EPDS score reduced significantly from 14.11 pre-intervention to 9.99 (p < .001). The mean EPDS-3a score reduced significantly from 5.68 pre-intervention to 4.37 (p < .001). These improvements were still present four weeks after completion of the program at a 'group reunion' session. The addition of a sequential attachment-based parenting program was not shown to be effective in further reducing symptoms of depression or anxiety (p =.183).</p><p><strong>Conclusions for practice: </strong>These findings support the efficacy of group psychotherapy interventions for reducing both depression and anxiety symptoms in the postnatal period. This intervention demonstrated lower depression symptoms in the post test compared to the pre-test periods for women with and without previous history of mental illness and those with varied baseline depression symptoms.</p>","PeriodicalId":48367,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143732448","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Samantha Addante, Lucia Ciciolla, Amanda Baraldi, Karina M Shreffler
{"title":"Evaluating Associations Among Maternal ACEs, Perinatal Depression, and Infant Experiences of Adversity.","authors":"Samantha Addante, Lucia Ciciolla, Amanda Baraldi, Karina M Shreffler","doi":"10.1007/s10995-025-04079-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10995-025-04079-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The growing literature on the intergenerational transmission of childhood adversity highlights the need to identify potential mechanisms underlying the relationship between maternal and infant adversity. This study examines prenatal and postpartum depressive symptoms as mediators between maternal ACEs and postpartum infant experiences of adversity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A diverse sample of 168 low-income, pregnant women (39% white) were recruited from urban prenatal clinics and followed for one-year post childbirth. Maternal childhood adversity and prenatal depressive symptoms were assessed during pregnancy, postpartum depressive symptoms were assessed at 6 months postpartum, and infant experiences of adversity at 12 months postpartum.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The total indirect effect of maternal ACEs on infant experiences of adversity through prenatal and postpartum depressive symptoms was significant, indicating that these symptoms collectively mediate this relationship. Additionally, our results demonstrated a mediated pathway in which maternal ACEs contributed directly to prenatal depression, which in turn indirectly influenced postpartum depression and infant experiences of adversity.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Findings provide evidence for perinatal depressive symptoms as a potential mechanism that influences infant exposure to adverse experiences. Future research should explore these pathways in larger, more robust samples to clarify the role of postpartum depressive symptoms.</p>","PeriodicalId":48367,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143701814","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maria G Kallis Colon, Adolfo Lopez, Maribel Campos Rivera, Jeremy Pomeroy, Cristina Palacios
{"title":"Baby-Act Intervention to Prevent Excessive Infant Weight Gain: Development, Implementation, Lessons Learned, and Future Applications.","authors":"Maria G Kallis Colon, Adolfo Lopez, Maribel Campos Rivera, Jeremy Pomeroy, Cristina Palacios","doi":"10.1007/s10995-025-04082-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-025-04082-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>There are limited interventions for preventing excessive infant weight gain among Hispanic and low-income populations. Here, we describe the development/implementation of the Baby-Act trial, a multi-component/multi-model intervention for preventing excessive infant weight gain in low-income Hispanics. We also report adherence/fidelity, lessons learned, and future applications.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial among mother/infant participants of the WIC program in Puerto Rico. The intervention included responsive feeding, infant activation, healthy sleep, and limiting sedentary behaviors using behavioral change theories. It was implemented as a multi-modal approach from pregnancy to the first year of life through weekly online interactive lessons (n = 56) that focused on one of the topics, reinforced with weekly text messages and monthly calls with a dietitian. Adherence/fidelity was recorded as the number of lessons/calls completed and text messages sent/received in the order designed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Adherence from 207 participants was 45.7% for pregnancy lessons and 31.4% for baby lessons (higher in months 0-3 and for lessons that suggested uploading images/videos). On average, 19 lessons were completed (with 3.6 lessons completed on the same day instead of once per week). Adherence to calls was 42.3% (higher in the first months, 49.0%). On average, each participant completed 5 calls. Lessons/calls/texts were completed/received as designed; 99.3% of text messages were sent.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Adherence to all intervention components was low, but all participants received the main messages because the topics were repeated continuously. Future studies should reduce the frequency of lessons, include more text messages, and more sharing of videos/photos.</p><p><strong>Clinicaltrials: </strong>GOV: NCT03517891.</p>","PeriodicalId":48367,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143694177","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Justine Pleau, Noémie Tanguay, Yohann Courtemanche, Jean R Séguin, Catherine M Herba, Marie-Noelle Simard, Andrea A N MacLeod, William D Fraser, Gina Muckle
{"title":"Longitudinal Associations Between Cannabis Use during Pregnancy and Child Cognitive, Motor, and Language Development at 2 Years Old.","authors":"Justine Pleau, Noémie Tanguay, Yohann Courtemanche, Jean R Séguin, Catherine M Herba, Marie-Noelle Simard, Andrea A N MacLeod, William D Fraser, Gina Muckle","doi":"10.1007/s10995-025-04077-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-025-04077-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The objectives of this study are to describe cannabis use during pregnancy, identify associated factors, examine the associations between prenatal cannabis use and the cognitive, motor and language development of 2-year-old children, and determine whether these associations differ according to child sex.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data from 1489 mother-infant dyads from the 3D prospective pregnancy and birth cohort Study (2010-2012) were used. Prenatal cannabis use was measured during interviews in each trimester of pregnancy. Cognitive and motor development were assessed by The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (BSID-III) and language development by the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories at 2 years of age. Multiple linear regressions and differential analyses by child sex were performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>2.6% of women reported using cannabis during pregnancy, the majority of whom stopped after the first trimester. Prenatal cannabis use was associated with lower socioeconomic status, prenatal use of alcohol and tobacco, and more distress symptoms during the first trimester of pregnancy. Results showed no significant associations between prenatal cannabis use (yes/no) and developmental indicators (Cognitive: B = 0.016, 95% CI [-0.268, 0.299]; Fine motor: B = 0.029, 95% CI [-0.271, 0.328]; Gross motor: B = 0.060, 95% CI [-0.143, 0.544]; Language: B = 0.200, 95% CI [-0.229, 0,465]). Contrary to our hypothesis, a positive association between cannabis use and language development was found in girls only.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study, consisting of a large sample and developmental indicators independent of parental assessment, highlights the need for more studies on prenatal cannabis exposure documented by biomarkers.</p>","PeriodicalId":48367,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143694178","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Association Between Infant-Mother Room-Sharing and Symptoms of Postpartum Depression: A Population-Based Study.","authors":"Sravya Patibandla, Zelalem T Haile","doi":"10.1007/s10995-025-04073-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-025-04073-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to (1) examine the relationship between infant-mother room-sharing and postpartum depression (PPD) symptoms and (2) determine whether the relationship between infant-mother room-sharing and PPD symptoms varies by other maternal or infant characteristics.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study utilized de-identified secondary data from the 2016-2019 Pregnancy Risk Assessment and Monitoring System (PRAMS) (N=105,144). Frequencies and percentages were used to describe the characteristics of the study sample. Rao-Scott chi-square tests were used to examine differences in PPD symptoms and infant-mother room-sharing by maternal and infant characteristics. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to examine the independent association between infant sleeping arrangements and PPD symptoms. Pairwise interaction between infant sleeping arrangement and each covariate were included in the regression model, and stratified analyses were performed for variables with significant pairwise interactions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The prevalence of PPD symptoms was 11.7%, and 79.5% reported that their infant sleeps in the same room. Significant pairwise interactions were found between infant-mother room-sharing and marital status, education, insurance, and receipt of WIC food assistance on PPD symptoms. The odds of having PPD symptoms were higher in those whose infants shared the same room compared to those whose infants slept in a different room. However, the observed association was present only in the subgroups of participants who were married, had greater than a high school level of education, had private insurance, and did not receive WIC food assistance during pregnancy.</p><p><strong>Conclusions for practice: </strong>Findings suggest that infant-mother room-sharing is independently associated with increased odds of PPD symptoms.</p>","PeriodicalId":48367,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143671522","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Preconception Physical Activity and Maternal Health Outcomes: An Integrative Review of Studies from 2016-2025.","authors":"Kadeeja S Murrell, Rodney P Joseph","doi":"10.1007/s10995-025-04086-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-025-04086-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Preconception physical activity may lower the risk of adverse maternal health outcomes. This integrative review examined the relationship between preconception physical activity and maternal health outcomes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Six electronic databases (i.e., Cochrane Library, PubMed, Science Direct, PsycInfo, SAGE Journals, and Sports Discus) were searched for relevant articles. Articles were eligible for inclusion if they were (1) published between January 1, 2016, and January 9, 2025, in an English-language peer-reviewed journal; (2) included a measure of preconception physical activity; and (3) reported maternal health outcomes during or after birth.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Search procedures retrieved a total of 3608 articles. After a thorough screening process, seven articles met the inclusion criteria of this review. Five articles reported data from prospective cohort studies, and two articles employed cross-sectional designs. Outcomes examined included gestational hypertension (n = 3), gestational diabetes/glucose metabolism (n = 4), preeclampsia (n = 2), infant birth weight (n = 2), pregnancy weight gain (n = 1), duration of pregnancy (n = 1), and mode of delivery (n = 1). Higher preconception physical activity engagement was linked to reduced risks of gestational hypertension (n = 1), gestational diabetes/glucose metabolism (n = 2), preeclampsia (n = 2), low birth weight (n = 1), excessive pregnancy weight gain (n = 1), and post-term delivery (n = 1). Three studies found greater risk reduction with increased moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Engaging in regular moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during preconception is associated with a reduced risk of numerous adverse maternal health outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":48367,"journal":{"name":"Maternal and Child Health Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143659051","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}