Year of Publication

2024

College

Public Health

Date Available

4-4-2024

Degree Name

Master of Public Health (M.P.H.)

Committee Chair

Ketrell McWhorter

Committee Member

Richard Crosby

Committee Member

Hartley Feld

Abstract

Abstract

Background

Previous studies have linked maternal depression with poor infant sleep (e.g., waking up at night and infants having trouble settling to sleep). This study examined the relationship between maternal depressive symptoms at three time points and safe infant sleep at 6-month follow-up.

Methods

Data was collected from a randomized clinical trial including 100 women recruited from a health center in Santo Domingo, Ecuador during their third trimester of pregnancy. Log-binomial regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of safe infant sleeping at 6 months among mothers who reported depressive symptoms at 3 time points versus those who did not, adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and clinical trial group. Depression was defined by the 2-item Patient Health Questionnaire Scale.

Results

The average age was 24 (±6.2) years old and 82% were of mixed race, 89% reported ‘living below or just at needs being met.’ There was a non-significant increased prevalence of unsafe infant sleeping at 6 months among mothers who reported depression at baseline compared to mothers who did not (PR=1.46, [95%CI:0.55-3.89]) and at 1-month (PR=1.18, [95%CI:0.46-3.02]). There was a 12% decreased prevalence of unsafe infant sleeping at 6 months among mothers who reported depression at 6 months compared to those who did not (PR=0.88, [95%CI:0.38-2.05])

Conclusion

Although safe infant sleep practices were not associated with depression in this small sample public health intervention programs for caregivers living in low-income regions should continue to assess and treat maternal and post-partum depression and promote safe infant sleep practices.

Keywords: Sudden infant death syndrome, Depression, Postpartum; Ecuador; Social Class; Infant Mortality

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