Depressive symptoms among mothers with hospitalized children in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
Elshafei A., Jemutai J., Tickell KD., Sukhtankar P., Bhat A., Molyneux S., Berkley JA., Walson JL., Collins PY., Childhood Acute Illness and Nutrition (CHAIN) Network Investigators None.
BACKGROUND: Poor maternal mental health during childhood hospitalization is associated with post-discharge child mortality. We aimed to establish if maternal PHQ-9 scores during hospitalization are associated with acute stressors or longer trends in mental health status. METHOD: Mothers of children admitted to nine hospitals in six countries completed a PHQ-9 assessment during hospitalization and 45-days post-discharge. Community participants were recruited from homes near the hospitalized children. The prevalence and correlates of high PHQ-9 scores among hospitalized and community mothers were compared. OUTCOMES: Among 2762 mothers of hospitalized children, 514 (19 %) had PHQ-9 scores ≥10, significantly more than the 116 (10 %, p