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Effects of Caregiver Depression and Behavior on Child Growth in Mexico
Author(s) -
DiGirolamo Ann M,
Ramakrishnan Usha,
Neufeld Lynnette,
Rivera Juan A,
Flores Rafael,
Martorell Reynaldo
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a615-a
Subject(s) - depression (economics) , psychosocial , anthropometry , praise , depressive symptoms , distress , medicine , observational study , clinical psychology , psychology , demography , psychiatry , cognition , economics , macroeconomics , pathology , sociology , psychotherapist
Objective To assess relationships between caregiver depressive symptoms, behavior, and subsequent child growth at 24 mo of age in Mexico. Methods Interviews and in‐home observations were conducted with primary caregivers and children (15 mo) participating in a multimicronutrient supplementation trial. Psychosocial and demographic data on caregivers and caregiver‐child interactions were collected (n=249). Depressive symptoms were measured with the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale and interactions with a structured observational system. Anthropometric measurements were taken on children at 24 mo. Data were analyzed using correlational and regression analyses, controlling for maternal education, economic status, child gender and behavior, and supplement group. Results Stunting (HAZ < −2) was observed in 17% of the children and only 1% were wasted (WHZ < −2). Many women experienced elevated levels of depressive symptoms (45%); more depressive symptoms were associated with fewer observed praise and positive discipline behaviors (r =‐0.17, p<0.05). An elevated level of depressive symptoms and fewer praise and discipline behaviors were positively related to child stunting (OR=2.7 and 2.9, respectively, p=0.01). These relationships hold after controlling for demographic, supplement and child behavior variables. Conclusions Many primary caregivers of young children in central Mexico are experiencing substantial distress. Both distress and certain caregiver behaviors were related to poor growth among children at 2 yrs of age. Funding by NIH, MI, RSPH, and INSP.