Maternal psychosocial correlates of child health in urban northeast Brazil

Context: Despite improvements in child health indicators nationwide, the health status of children in the northeast region of Brazil remains far below the national average. New strategies are needed to address this disparity. Emerging research suggests that maternal psychosocial factors may significantly impact child health.

Objective: The goal of this study was to examine the relationship between child health and maternal relationship quality with a spouse/partner, self-rated health, depressive symptoms, and social support.

Design: Structured interviews were completed in 2002 for a cross-sectional study. 595 mothers were recruited from a random sample of households in nine low-income communities of Teresina, Piauí. Child health outcomes consisted of the Eisen Infant Health Rating Scale and a composite index of child fever, worms or diarrhea during the preceding two weeks. Exposure variables included measures of maternal relationship quality, self-rated health, depressive symptoms, and social support. Analyses included multivariable regression modeling, controlling for child birthweight, child age, breastfeeding duration, maternal education, and sanitation.

Results: Good partner relationship quality and good/excellent maternal self-rated health were significantly associated with higher scores on the Eisen Infant Health Rating Scale (β=0.6 95%CI 0.1-1.1; β=1.1 95% CI 0.6-1.6, respectively). Every five point increase in depressive symptoms was negatively associated with Eisen Infant Health Rating Scale scores (β=־0.3 95% CI ־0.4-־0.2) and with recent child wellness (less worms, fever or diarrhea)(OR=0.8 95% CI 0.7-0.9).

Conclusions: Modifiable maternal psychosocial factors, such as quality of the partner relationship, are important to child health and should be considered when designing public health programs.