Abstract
Background: Maternal mental health problems play an important role in infant well-being. Although western countries have extensively studied the associations between maternal mental disorders, hygiene practices and infant health, little is known in developing settings. This study investigates the correlations between postnatal mental health problems, hand washing practices and infant illness in rural western China.Methods: A total of 720 mothers of infants aged 0–6 months from four poor counties in rural western China were included in the survey. Mental health symptoms were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Questions about infant illness and hand washing practices followed evaluative surveys from prior studies. Adjusted ordinary least squares regressions were used to examine correlations between postnatal mental health (depression, anxiety, and stress) symptoms, hand washing practices, and infant illness outcomes.Results: Maternal depression, anxiety and stress symptoms were significantly associated with reduced hand washing overall and less frequent hand washing after cleaning the infant's bottom. Mental health symptoms were also associated with a higher probability of infants showing two or more illness symptoms and visiting a doctor for illness symptoms. Individual hand washing practices were not significantly associated with infant illness; however, a composite measure of hand washing practices was significantly associated with reduced probability of infant illness.Conclusion: Postnatal mental health problems are prevalent in rural China and significantly associated with infant illness. Policy makers and practitioners should investigate possible interventions to improve maternal and infant well-being.
Highlights
IntroductionWestern countries have extensively studied the associations between maternal mental disorders, hygiene practices and infant health, little is known in developing settings
Maternal mental health problems play an important role in infant well-being
This study examined the associations between postnatal mental health, hand washing practices, and infant illness outcomes using detailed survey data from 720 new mothers of infants aged 0–6 months
Summary
Western countries have extensively studied the associations between maternal mental disorders, hygiene practices and infant health, little is known in developing settings. This study investigates the correlations between postnatal mental health problems, hand washing practices and infant illness in rural western China. In rural China, as many as 22% of all infant deaths were found to be associated with diarrheal illness and as many as 71% of rural infant deaths were associated with acute respiratory infections in 2015 [3]. Such high rates of fatality due to preventable infant illness requires further study and intervention. A study in South Africa found that infants whose caregivers frequently engaged in hand washing practices had reduced incidences of diarrhea and pneumonia [7]
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