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Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal =... Sep 2023Adolescent motherhood can cause lifelong health inequalities for mothers and children.
BACKGROUND
Adolescent motherhood can cause lifelong health inequalities for mothers and children.
AIMS
To compare the frequency of negative birth outcomes and stunting among children aged ≤ 5 years born to adolescent and non-adolescent mothers.
METHODS
This was a secondary analysis of the Demographic and Health Survey data of 2755 adolescent and non-adolescent mothers aged 15-49 years who had a negative birth outcome and their children aged 0-5 years in Türkiye. The data were analysed using SPSS version 25.0.
RESULTS
Term low birthweight and stunting were significantly higher among children of adolescent mothers. Multivariable analysis revealed that lack of education, poverty, and living in eastern Türkiye increased the risk of delivering a term low birthweight infant. The risk of being stunted was 2.22 times higher among women with lower socioeconomic status, and 2.86 times higher among low birthweight infants.
CONCLUSION
Our results show that macroenvironmental factors have a marked impact on maternal and child health, especially among women with lower socioeconomic status. Improving maternal education, income, and other socioeconomic inequalities can help improve maternal and child health in Türkiye.
Topics: Infant; Child; Humans; Female; Adolescent; Adolescent Mothers; Birth Weight; Mothers; Growth Disorders; Poverty
PubMed: 37776131
DOI: 10.26719/emhj.23.074 -
BMC Women's Health Sep 2022The law in Lebanon allows new mothers to take up to 10 weeks paid maternity leave, and some private organizations choose to give fathers 2 days of paternity leave in...
BACKGROUND
The law in Lebanon allows new mothers to take up to 10 weeks paid maternity leave, and some private organizations choose to give fathers 2 days of paternity leave in the absence of clear legislation. This falls short of the 6 months recommended for mothers in the literature.
METHODS
The sample consisted of 97 Lebanese mothers with children between 6 and 24 months of age. First, we examined correlations between the length of maternity leave and measures of work productivity and maternal sense of competence in their new role as a parent. Second, we explored correlations between the length of maternity leave and mother-child adjustment measures (mother-infant bonding, maternal stress, and parenting guilt). Finally, we looked for predictors of work productivity and maternal sense of competence in demographic variables, mother-child adjustment measures, and partner attachment scores.
RESULTS
Results showed significant correlations between work productivity and maternal sense of competence, irrespective of the length of maternity leave. Regression analyses showed that working for pleasure, mother-infant healthy bonding, and positive subjective experience of being back to work were significant predictors of work productivity, and that maternal stress predicted maternal competence.
CONCLUSION
These findings are discussed within the framework of providing suggestions facilitating mothers' transition back to work and increasing work productivity after having a baby.
Topics: Employment; Female; Humans; Infant; Mother-Child Relations; Mothers; Object Attachment; Parenting; Pregnancy; Regression Analysis
PubMed: 36167585
DOI: 10.1186/s12905-022-01958-w -
Research in Developmental Disabilities Dec 2022Mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience lower maternal mental health outcomes than mothers of children from other populations, including...
BACKGROUND
Mothers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience lower maternal mental health outcomes than mothers of children from other populations, including children with intellectual and developmental disorders.
OBJECTIVES
This study explored risk factors associated with maternal mental health. Several factors including maternal resilience, social support, coping, optimism and family functioning acted as protective factors between child behavioural and emotional problems and maternal mental health.
METHODS
Mothers of 70 children completed a cross-sectional online survey. Twenty-two children were diagnosed with ASD, 16 children were diagnosed with Dyslexia (DYS) and 32 children had no special educational needs diagnosis (NO SEND).
RESULTS
Mothers of children with ASD demonstrated greater maternal mental health problems compared to mothers of children with DYS and NO SEND. Socioeconomic status (SES), child diagnosis, child gender, and child behavioural and emotional problems were significant risk factors associated with reduced maternal mental health. Maternal resilience, family functioning, and practical coping served as protective factors, moderating the relationship between child behavioural and emotional problems and maternal mental health. There is little evidence to suggest social support, optimism, and wishful thinking were protective factors in this relationship between child behavioural and emotional problems and maternal mental health.
IMPLICATIONS
There is a need to support mothers of children with ASD through interventions to promote and increase their mental health.
Topics: Child; Female; Humans; Mental Health; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Protective Factors; Cross-Sectional Studies; Mothers
PubMed: 36274394
DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104362 -
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Aug 2021The influence of maternal psychological distress on infant congenital heart defects (CHDs) has not been thoroughly investigated. Furthermore, there have been no reports...
BACKGROUND
The influence of maternal psychological distress on infant congenital heart defects (CHDs) has not been thoroughly investigated. Furthermore, there have been no reports on the combined effect of maternal psychological distress and socioeconomic status on infant CHDs. This study aimed to examine whether maternal psychological distress, socioeconomic status, and their combinations were associated with CHD.
METHODS
We conducted a prospective cohort study using data from the Japan Environment and Children's Study, which recruited pregnant women between 2011 and 2014. Maternal psychological distress was evaluated using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale in the first trimester, while maternal education and household income were evaluated in the second and third trimesters. The outcome of infant CHD was determined using the medical records at 1 month of age and/or at birth. Crude- and confounder-adjusted logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between maternal psychological distress and education and household income on infant CHD.
RESULTS
A total of 93,643 pairs of mothers and infants were analyzed, with 1.1% of infants having CHDs. Maternal psychological distress had a significantly higher odds ratio in the crude analysis but not in the adjusted analysis, while maternal education and household income were statistically insignificant. In the analysis of the combination variable of lowest education and psychological distress, the P for trend was statistically significant in the crude and multivariate model excluding anti-depressant medication, but the significance disappeared in the full model (P = 0.050).
CONCLUSIONS
The combination of maternal psychological distress and lower education may be a possible indicator of infant CHD.
Topics: Adult; Cohort Studies; Educational Status; Female; Heart Defects, Congenital; Humans; Income; Infant, Newborn; Japan; Logistic Models; Mothers; Pregnancy; Prospective Studies; Psychological Distress; Regression Analysis; Social Class
PubMed: 34364381
DOI: 10.1186/s12884-021-04001-2 -
PloS One 2022Some children born to adolescent mothers may have developmental challenges, while others do not. Research focusing on which children of adolescent mothers are at the...
BACKGROUND
Some children born to adolescent mothers may have developmental challenges, while others do not. Research focusing on which children of adolescent mothers are at the highest risk for cognitive delay is still required. Both maternal HIV status and maternal mental health may affect child development. An examination of maternal mental health, especially in the presence of maternal HIV infection may be timely. This study explores the relationship between the mental health of adolescent mothers (comparing those living with and not living with HIV) and the cognitive development performance scores of their children. Additional possible risk and protective factors for poor child development are explored to identify those children born to adolescent mothers who may be at the greatest risk of poor cognitive development.
METHODS
Cross-sectional data utilised within the analyses was drawn from a large cohort of adolescent mothers and their children residing in South Africa. Detailed study questionnaires were completed by adolescent mothers relating to their self and their child and, standardised cognitive assessments were completed by trained researchers for all children using in the Mullen Scales of Early Learning. Chi-square, t-tests (Kruskal Wallis tests, where appropriate), and ANOVA were used to explore sample characteristics and child cognitive development scores by maternal mental health status (operationalised as likely common mental disorder) and combined maternal mental health and HIV status. Multivariable linear regression models were used to explore the relationship between possible risk factors (including poor maternal mental health and HIV) and, child cognitive development scores.
RESULTS
The study included 954 adolescent mothers; 24.1% (230/954) were living with HIV, 12.6% (120/954) were classified as experiencing likely common mental disorder. After adjusting for covariates, maternal HIV was found to be associated with reduced child gross motor scores (B = -2.90 [95%CI: -5.35, -0.44], p = 0.02), however, no other associations were identified between maternal likely common mental disorder, or maternal HIV status (including interaction terms), and child cognitive development scores. Sensitivity analyses exploring individual maternal mental health scales identified higher posttraumatic stress symptomology scores as being associated with lower child cognitive development scores. Sensitivity analyses exploring potential risk and protective factors for child cognitive development also identified increased maternal educational attainment as being protective of child development scores, and increased child age as a risk factor for lower development scores.
CONCLUSIONS
This study addresses a critical evidence gap relating to the understanding of possible risk factors for the cognitive development of children born to adolescent mothers affected by HIV. This group of mothers experience a complex combination of risk factors, including HIV, likely common mental disorder, and structural challenges such as educational interruption. Targeting interventions to support the cognitive development of children of adolescent mothers most at risk may be of benefit. Clearly a basket of interventions needs to be considered, such as the integration of mental health provision within existing services, identifying multiple syndemics of risk, and addressing educational and structural challenges, all of which may boost positive outcomes for both the mother and the child.
Topics: Humans; Child; Adolescent; Female; Child Development; Mental Health; Cross-Sectional Studies; HIV Infections; Adolescent Mothers; Mothers; Cognition
PubMed: 36264898
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275805 -
Biological Reviews of the Cambridge... Oct 2021Maternal effects, or the influence of maternal environment and phenotype on offspring phenotype, may allow mothers to fine-tune their offspring's developmental... (Review)
Review
Maternal effects, or the influence of maternal environment and phenotype on offspring phenotype, may allow mothers to fine-tune their offspring's developmental trajectory and resulting phenotype sometimes long after the offspring has reached independence. However, maternal effects on offspring phenotype do not evolve in isolation, but rather within the context of a family unit, where the separate and often conflicting evolutionary interests of mothers, fathers and offspring are all at play. While intrafamilial conflicts are routinely invoked to explain other components of reproductive strategy, remarkably little is known about how intrafamilial conflicts influence maternal effects. We argue that much of the considerable variation in the relationship between maternally derived hormones, nutrients and other compounds and the resulting offspring phenotype might be explained by the presence of conflicting selection pressures on different family members. In this review, we examine the existing literature on maternal hormone allocation as a case study for maternal effects more broadly, and explore new hypotheses that arise when we consider current findings within a framework that explicitly incorporates the different evolutionary interests of the mother, her offspring and other family members. Specifically, we hypothesise that the relationship between maternal hormone allocation and offspring phenotype depends on a mother's ability to manipulate the signals she sends to offspring, the ability of family members to be plastic in their response to those signals and the capacity for the phenotypes and strategies of various family members to interact and influence one another on both behavioural and evolutionary timescales. We also provide suggestions for experimental, comparative and theoretical work that may be instrumental in testing these hypotheses. In particular, we highlight that manipulating the level of information available to different family members may reveal important insights into when and to what extent maternal hormones influence offspring development. We conclude that the evolution of maternal hormone allocation is likely to be shaped by the conflicting fitness optima of mothers, fathers and offspring, and that the outcome of this conflict depends on the relative balance of power between family members. Extending our hypotheses to incorporate interactions between family members, as well as more complex social groups and a wider range of taxa, may provide exciting new developments in the fields of endocrinology and maternal effects.
Topics: Female; Hormones; Humans; Mothers; Phenotype; Reproduction
PubMed: 33988906
DOI: 10.1111/brv.12733 -
International Journal of Environmental... Nov 2022Mothers of children with ADHD are at risk for negative health outcomes. The socio-cultural environment and everyday experiences in life roles may influence psychological...
Mothers of children with ADHD are at risk for negative health outcomes. The socio-cultural environment and everyday experiences in life roles may influence psychological health and quality of life. The ultra-orthodox Jewish (UOJ) community is an insular community who is underrepresented in the research, and as such there are no studies exploring the experience of mothering a child in this community. Thus, this study aims to explore the lived experience of mothering a child with ADHD in the UOJ community. The study used a descriptive qualitative phenomenological approach. Ten UOJ mothers of children with ADHD underwent semi-structured in-depth interviews to explore their lived experiences of mothering a child with ADHD. Thematic analysis was carried out on the transcripts. Four main themes, along with several subthemes, emerged from the qualitative analysis: child ADHD manifestations, maternal role, social factors, and self-care. Unique characteristics of the UOJ culture were apparent throughout the themes. UOJ children with ADHD display similar manifestations of symptoms in daily life to those in the general population and maternal burden is similarly present. However, unique perceptions of their maternal role, social factors, and legitimacy for self-care shed light into the impact of this culture on their lived experience. Findings may help promote culturally sensitive health care and interventions for this understudied population.
Topics: Child; Female; Humans; Quality of Life; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity; Mothers; Qualitative Research
PubMed: 36361375
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114483 -
International Journal of Qualitative... Dec 2018New mothers may question the nature of their motherly love after the birth. Most mothers find that feelings of affection come within a week from birth. However, some... (Review)
Review
New mothers may question the nature of their motherly love after the birth. Most mothers find that feelings of affection come within a week from birth. However, some mothers are still struggling with this after many months. Many studies place strong emphasis on the importance of maternal affection for the development of the child. Few studies look into mothers' experiences when maternal affection or love remains a struggle. Method:We present an interpretative synthesis based on a systematic analysis of five qualitative studies that report findings related to mothers' stated inability to exhibit maternal affection. Result:In answer to our question "what characterizes the experiences of women who struggle with, or are unable to exhibit, maternal affection after birth", we identified the uncertainty involved in imagining the unborn child, birth and maternal future, birth as a disillusionment, and the ensuing process of decreasing agency and increasing alienation. Especially a traumatic birth may lead to disillusionment. Conclusion: Health care workers and research can support a mother's positive resolution of her struggle by promoting realistic and more open expectations for maternal affection as well as her sense of agency and ownership during birth and the early mother-child relationship.
Topics: Adaptation, Psychological; Emotions; Humans; Love; Mother-Child Relations; Mothers; Object Attachment; Postpartum Period; Qualitative Research
PubMed: 29975176
DOI: 10.1080/17482631.2018.1490621 -
Nutrients Mar 2023All mortality risk factors are higher in non-breastfed infants compared to infants under five months of age who receive Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF). Examining the...
UNLABELLED
All mortality risk factors are higher in non-breastfed infants compared to infants under five months of age who receive Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF). Examining the predicting role of maternal ideation in EBF practices can help to direct and strengthen the cooperation between multidisciplinary healthcare providers to formulate multidisciplinary breastfeeding enhancement strategies.
METHODS
This correlational cross-sectional study investigates the relationship between maternal ideation and EBF practice among Saudi nursing mothers at Maternal and Children's Hospital (MCH) in Najran, Saudi Arabia. The study incorporated 403 Saudi nursing mothers aged 6-12 months with healthy infants. The data collected using a questionnaire comprises demographic characteristics and obstetric history, the EBF Practice scale, and a maternal ideation scale. The data was collected from the beginning of November 2022 to the end of January 2023 and analyzed using I.B.M. version 22.
RESULTS
Breastfeeding initiation within one hour occurred among 85.1% of women, while 39.2% fed their newborn only colostrum during the first three days. EBF until six months was practiced by 40.9% of the participants day and night and on-demand (38.7%). Furthermore, 60.8% of the study participants had satisfactory overall EBF practices. The cognitive part of maternal ideation shows that 68.2% of the participants had adequate knowledge and 63.5% had positive beliefs regarding EBF practice. The maternal psychological ideation dimensions show that 81.4% had high EBF self-efficacy. The maternal social ideation dimensions showed that high injunctive and descriptive norms were present among 40.9% and 37.5%, respectively. In addition, healthcare providers (39.2%) had the most significant social influence, followed by husbands (30.5%). Binary logistic regression shows that the mother's age, occupation, and education are the significant demographic predictors of satisfactory EBF practices ( < 0.05). All maternal ideation constructs were positive predictors of satisfactory EBF practices ( < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
Maternal ideation constructs are positive predictors of satisfactory EBF practice and can be used to predict high-risk groups and plan for further intervention.
Topics: Infant; Infant, Newborn; Child; Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Breast Feeding; Mothers; Cross-Sectional Studies; Saudi Arabia; Cognition
PubMed: 37049559
DOI: 10.3390/nu15071719 -
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Feb 2022Being born before full gestation can have short-term and life-long health implications, yet it remains difficult to determine the risk of preterm birth among expectant...
BACKGROUND
Being born before full gestation can have short-term and life-long health implications, yet it remains difficult to determine the risk of preterm birth among expectant mothers. Across different health settings, increasing attention is given to the health and behavioural consequences of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) such as child abuse or neglect, or exposure to harmful household environments (e.g. in which caregivers abuse alcohol), and the potential value of understanding these hidden harms when supporting individuals and families. A large international evidence base describes the association between childhood adversity and early years outcomes for mothers and children. However, the relationship between maternal ACEs and preterm birth has received far less attention.
METHODS
Secondary analysis was carried out on anonymised cross-sectional data from health visiting services in south and west Wales that had previously captured information on mothers' ACEs during routine contacts. Demographic data and information on mothers' health were extracted from the Healthy Child Wales Programme.
RESULTS
Half of all mothers sampled had experienced at least one ACE, with a history of ACEs more common among younger, white British mothers and those residing in deprived areas. Preterm birth was significantly independently associated with retrospective reports of childhood sexual abuse (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.19-12.32, p = 0.025), neglect (AOR = 7.60, 95%CI = 1.81-31.97, p = 0.006) and overall ACE exposure (AOR = 2.67, 95%CI = 1.14-6.23, p = 0.024), with one in ten mothers (10.0%) who experienced ≥4 ACEs having preterm birth. Sub-analyses revealed a more pronounced relationship among mothers with no known chronic health conditions, with those with ≥4 ACEs and no known chronic condition four times more likely to give birth preterm (AOR = 3.89, 95%CI = 1.40-10.80, p = 0.009).
CONCLUSIONS
Findings highlight the importance of the entire maternal experience. The experience of childhood adversity can have a lasting impact into and beyond the prenatal period, potentially increasing the risk of preterm birth, even among otherwise healthy women. Increasing our understanding of the potential perinatal outcomes associated with ACEs can help to inform how maternity services and partners offer trauma-sensitive support to mitigate some of the risks of early parturition, as well as target intergenerational cycles of adversity and poor health.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Adult Survivors of Child Adverse Events; Adverse Childhood Experiences; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data Collection; Female; Humans; Mothers; Pregnancy; Premature Birth; Wales; Young Adult
PubMed: 35172776
DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-04454-z