Womens Health After Pregnancy and Child Outcomes at Age 3 Years …

Short Description
cal and mental health conditions after pregnancy and the association of these condi- … the context of pregnancy. (Am J Public Health. 2002;92:1312-1318) …

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Content
1312 | Research and Practice | Peer Reviewed | Kahn et al. American Journal of Public Health | August 2002, Vol 92, No. 8
. RESEARCH AND PRACTICE .
Objectives. This study examined the persistence and comorbidity of women’s physical
and mental health conditions after pregnancy and the association of these conditions
with child outcomes.
Methods. A national cohort of women who recently gave birth were surveyed in 1988
and again in 1991. We examined longitudinal data on maternal poor physical health,
depressive symptoms, and smoking, and maternal report of child outcomes (at age ~3
years).
Results. Women’s poor physical health and smoking had strong, graded associations
with children’s physical health and behavior problems, whereas women’s depressive
symptoms were associated with children’s delayed language and behavior problems.
Conclusions. Substantial persistence and comorbidity of women’s health conditions
exist after pregnancy with adverse effects on early child outcomes. Child health professionals
should support services and policies that promote women’s health outside
the context of pregnancy. (Am J Public Health. 2002;92:1312-1318)
continuous health care for women after they
deliver.21-24
The goal of this study was to offer a
broader perspective on the scope and persistence…