Latinos and blacks suffer the most from post-partum depression, which could have a negative impact on a child’s development.
According to the Los Angeles Department of Public Health, via Examiner.com, “Postpartum depression is a common problem in Los Angeles. According to the LA County Department of Public Health, 23 percent of Caucasian, 44 percent of Latino, 46% of black, and 28% of Asian mothers suffer from postpartum depression.”
The article also reports that the “health department notes that the condition negatively affects bonding, attachment, and breastfeeding. It also increases the risk of abusive behavior toward the infant and can result in behavioral and cognitive issues in early childhood and beyond.”
Now, a new study report that postpartum depression can impact childhood growth. Researchers affiliated with Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (Baltimore, Maryland) published their findings online on September 10 in the journal Pediatrics. The investigators wrote that they were uncertain why there is an association between mother’s depression and child height; however, they theorized that the reason may lie in nutrition. Depressed individuals typically suffer from loss of appetite; thus, mothers suffering from depression may not be as interested in what others are eating, including their children. The researchers also proposed the theory that depressed moms could have difficulty sleeping, which could lead to disruptions in the baby’s sleeping patterns and feeding times.
Photo (c) Stock Xchng