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

Summary 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