Association between maternal depression and the nutritional status of children under five-years-old in Peru: An analysis of the Demographic and Health Survey 2014-2017
Objective: To evaluate the association between maternal depression and nutritional status of children under 5 years old in Peru. Design: Cross-sectional study of the Demographic and Health Survey 2014-2017. Outcomes were mild (height Z-score for age <-2 SD) and moderate/severe (<-3DE) childhood chronic undernutrition and also mild (hemoglobin <11 g/dL) and moderate/severe (hemoglobin <10 g/dL) childhood anemia. Maternal depression was assessed by the questionnaire PHQ-9. Odds ratios and their confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by multinomial logistic regression models, considering the complex sample design. Setting: Peru Participants: Peruvian women of childbearing age from 15 to 49 years who live with children from 6 to 59 months. Results: Maternal depression was significantly associated with a higher odds of moderate/severe chronic undernutrition in children aged 6-59 months (OR = 2.67; 95% CI 1.16-6.16). Conclusions: There was evidence that maternal depression was associated with an increased risk of moderate/severe chronic undernutrition Keywords: Mothers, depression, mental health, child undernutrition disorders, Peru.