HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kahn, R. S. Articles by Wise, P. H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kahn, R. S. Articles by Wise, P. H. Related Collections Pregnancy Mental Health Other Child and Adolescent Health Socioeconomic Factors Drugs Women's Health

Robert S. Kahn, MD, MPH, Barry Zuckerman, MD, Howard Bauchner, MD, Charles J. Homer, MD and Paul H. Wise, MD

Robert S. Kahn is with the Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio. Barry Zuckerman, Howard Bauchner, and Paul H. Wise are with the Department of Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Mass. Charles J. Homer is with the Division of General Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital, Boston, Mass.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Robert S. Kahn, MD, MPH, Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital Medical Center TCHRF 6549, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039 (e-mail: robert.kahn{at}chmcc.org).

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.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. P. Yoo, K. S. Slack, and J. L. Holl Material Hardship and the Physical Health of School-Aged Children in Low-Income Households Am J Public Health, May 1, 2009; 99(5): 829 - 836. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Nichter, M. Nichter, S. Adrian, K. Goldade, L. Tesler, and M. Muramoto Smoking and Harm-Reduction Efforts Among Postpartum Women Qual Health Res, September 1, 2008; 18(9): 1184 - 1194. [Abstract] [PDF]

				H. Hiscock, J. Bayer, L. Gold, A. Hampton, O. C Ukoumunne, and M. Wake Improving infant sleep and maternal mental health: a cluster randomised trial Arch. Dis. Child., November 1, 2007; 92(11): 952 - 958. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. C. Whitaker, S. M. Phillips, and S. M. Orzol Food Insecurity and the Risks of Depression and Anxiety in Mothers and Behavior Problems in their Preschool-Aged Children Pediatrics, September 1, 2006; 118(3): e859 - e868. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. C. Whitaker, S. M. Orzol, and R. S. Kahn Maternal Mental Health, Substance Use, and Domestic Violence in the Year After Delivery and Subsequent Behavior Problems in Children at Age 3 Years. Arch Gen Psychiatry, May 1, 2006; 63(5): 551 - 560. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L.-C. Lee, C. T Halpern, I. Hertz-Picciotto, S. L Martin, and C. M Suchindran Child care and social support modify the association between maternal depressive symptoms and early childhood behaviour problems: a US national study. J Epidemiol Community Health, April 1, 2006; 60(4): 305 - 310. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. S. Minkovitz, D. Strobino, D. Scharfstein, W. Hou, T. Miller, K. B. Mistry, and K. Swartz Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Children's Receipt of Health Care in the First 3 Years of Life Pediatrics, February 1, 2005; 115(2): 306 - 314. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. S. Kahn, D. Brandt, and R. C. Whitaker Combined Effect of Mothers' and Fathers' Mental Health Symptoms on Children's Behavioral and Emotional Well-being Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, August 1, 2004; 158(8): 721 - 729. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. L. Burdette, R. C. Whitaker, R. S. Kahn, and J. Harvey-Berino Association of Maternal Obesity and Depressive Symptoms With Television-Viewing Time in Low-Income Preschool Children Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, September 1, 2003; 157(9): 894 - 899. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. E. Mansour, U. Kotagal, B. Rose, M. Ho, D. Brewer, A. Roy-Chaudhury, R. W. Hornung, T. J. Wade, and T. G. DeWitt Health-Related Quality of Life in Urban Elementary Schoolchildren Pediatrics, June 1, 2003; 111(6): 1372 - 1381. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]