Newswise — Depressed pregnant women may be more likely to have babies with low birth weights, according to a new study co-authored by Karen Conway, professor of economics at the University of New Hampshire Whittemore School of Business and Economics.
According to the study, depression among mothers-to-be can result in delaying prenatal care, smoking and drinking. "Maternal smoking has consistently been found to be one of the most important determinants of infant health, and our depression regressions confirm the casual observation that smoking is associated with maternal depression," according to the study.
The study, "Maternal Depression and the Production of Infant Health," was conducted by Conway and Lisa DeFelice Kennedy, a graduate student at UNH. Conway and Kennedy used the results of a 1989 survey that looked at more than 7,000 babies and their mothers' families, financial standing and other life conditions.
Published in the Southern Economic Journal, the study also addresses the economic impact of low-weight babies. According to the research, doctors and government agencies may want to consider the mental health of pregnant women, particularly those in poor communities, as a way to combat infant health problems.
The results also suggest it would be worthwhile to explore the economic effects of maternal depression on babies. While the adverse effects of depression on infant health have been documented in medical research, economic research has largely ignored it. "There has been a growing recognition that treating depression may play an important role in helping the low-income and unemployed population, especially those on welfare," the study states. "Our research suggests that addressing the problem of depression within the low-income population has benefits that extend well beyond employment into the production of infant health."
The recent expansion in the Medicaid eligibility of pregnant women was intended to increase prenatal care, but women who are depressed are more likely to postpone getting that care, Conway said. They are also more likely to smoke or drink, as Conway's study and others indicate.
"It is therefore possible that treating depression may be a more effective way of reducing maternal smoking than tax increases or other policies," the study states. "But there are other avenues as well. Depression can make it more difficult to obtain and retain quality employment. As a result, depression may affect income, insurance status and even family structure, all of which can possibly have both direct and indirect effects on birth weight. Taken together, our research suggests that treating maternal depression is a promising new approach to improving infant health."
The complete report is available for download at: http://unhinfo.unh.edu/news/docs/conway_maternaldepression.pdf.
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