This matches in a slightly different dimension with what we found in a study we did in rural Northern Nigeria last year when analysing clustering of child mortality to a small percentage of mothers in areas where most women had the same levels of wealth and resources, same culture, same (almost non-existent) levels of education, same religion. Here the correlations were with low levels of respect the mother believed various types of other people had for her (proxy for self-respect), poor appearance of the mother, poor appearance of the children and household, and levels of lack of various types of support from relatives, in-laws and others. The correlations were very high indeed (Odds Ratios 2-5) between these measures and child mortality (even when matching numbers of births). 1,688 women were studied. 65% had had no child deaths. 20% of the women had 80% of the deaths.

Unfortunately because it was cross-sectional there was no way of measuring which came first: poor support of the woman and low respect, or her own mental health leading to lack of support and lack of respect. The suspicion was that the lack of support from relatives was the initiating factor.

==
Anthony Klouda

From: Social Determinants of Health [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Malcolm Lewis
Sent: 09 September 2011 02:26
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [SDOH] Maternal Depression and Childhood Health Inequalities-pathway for SDOh

Maternal Depression and Childhood Health Inequalities

Abstract
An increasing body of literature documents considerable inequalities in the health of young children in the United States, though maternal depression is one important, yet often overlooked, determinant of children�s health. In this article, the author uses data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (N = 4,048) and finds that maternal depression, particularly recurrent or chronic depression, puts children at risk of having unfavorable health when they are five years old. This finding persists despite adjusting for a host of demographic characteristics of the mothers and children (including children�s prior health) and is consistent across multiple health outcomes. Family instability, maternal health, and socioeconomic status account for the association between maternal depression and children�s health. Given that poor childhood health may lead to poor health and low socioeconomic status in adulthood, maternal depression may contribute to the intergenerational transmission of inequality. 
Journal of Health and Social Behavior September 2011 vol. 52 no. 3 314-332 
Sorry the last link wont work for you. But I found a free version as follows. 
http://crcw.princeton.edu/workingpapers/WP10-08-FF.pdf 
 Paywall details http://bit.ly/oKDuHg
Malcolm Lewis
Health Promotion Officer-Mental Health
Darling Downs Public Health Unit
Southern Regional Services, 
Division of the Chief Health Officer
Queensland Health
 
Phone 07 46319801
Fax: 07 4639 4772
 
Email: [log in to unmask]
 

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