Study of Correlation between Maternal Depression and Neonatal Anthropometric Measurements

According to World Health Organization report, depression is the top ranking among all diseases and its prevalence among women of childbearing age is about 10-20% even more. Unfortunately, maternal depression can affect infant growth and led them to several complications such as preterm labor and low birth weight. The aim of this study was to investigate correlation between maternal depression and neonatal anthropometric measurements. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 445 pregnant women who referred to Allavi hospital of Ardabil, Iran for delivery during winter 2010. Sampling was performed by simple method from available women. Data gathering tools were two questionnaires; socio-demographic questionnaire in content of history of previous pregnancies and neonatal measurements and another questionnaire was Beck depression questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 17), t-test and chi-square test. P value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Based on Beck test, 35 mothers (7.9%) suffered from moderate and moderate to high depression. No significant differences were found between depression and neonatal anthropometric measurements (weight (p=0.07), height (p=0.4) and head circumference (p=0.08)). Also, there were no significant differences between two groups of depressed and non depressed mothers in maternal body mass index (p=0.33), maternal Hb (p=0.82), maternal age (p=0.3), gestational age (p=0.2), gravidity (p=0.3), number of live child (p=0.21), prenatal care (p=0.4), unwanted pregnancy (p=1), birth time (p=0.5), neonatal sex (p=0.5), Fe and vitamin received (p=0.9), hyperemesis gravidarum (p=0.14), preterm birth (p=0.4), exposure to smoking (p=0.5). There are not statistically significant differences between maternal depression and neonatal anthropometric measurements. Neonatal anthropometric measurements have no significant difference in depressed and non-depressed mothers and physical growth of neonates is similar in both groups.