Child: Care, Health and Development
Volume 30, Issue 1, 2004, Pages 67-75

Infant hospitalization and maternal depression, poverty and single parenthood - A population-based study (Article)

Guttmann A.* , Dick P. , To T.
  • a Inst. for Clin. Evaluative Sciences, Sunnybrook/Women's Coll. Hlth. Sci., 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ont. M4N 3M5, Canada, Population Health Sciences, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ont., Canada
  • b Inst. for Clin. Evaluative Sciences, Sunnybrook/Women's Coll. Hlth. Sci., 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ont. M4N 3M5, Canada, Population Health Sciences, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ont., Canada, Paediatric Outcomes Research Team, Division of Paediatric Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ont., Canada, Department of Health Policy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont., Canada
  • c Inst. for Clin. Evaluative Sciences, Sunnybrook/Women's Coll. Hlth. Sci., 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ont. M4N 3M5, Canada, Population Health Sciences, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ont., Canada, Paediatric Outcomes Research Team, Division of Paediatric Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ont., Canada, Department of Health Policy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont., Canada, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont., Canada

Abstract

Objectives. There is variation in rates of hospitalization for young children which is unexplained by differences in health. We used population-based survey data to examine the contribution of family sociodemographic and psychodynamic factors to the risk of hospitalization in children under the age of 2 years in Canada. Methods. Baseline data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (a population-based study of child health and well-being) were used. A weighted sample of 332 697 (unweighted n = 2184) children between the age of 12 and 24 months, whose biological mother reported data on hospitalization over the past year, were included. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the risk of hospitalization by sociodemographic and psychodynamic factors controlling for important biological covariates. Results. The overall proportion of children who were hospitalized was 11.2%. After adjusting for prematurity, the only statistically significant biological factor associated with the risk of hospitalization was reported present health [odds ratio (OR) 4.04,95% confidence intervals (CI): 2.93, 5.58]. However, three family variables were significantly associated with hospitalization: low income adequacy (OR 1.66, 95% CI: 1.15, 2.40), single parenthood (OR 1.55, 95% CI: 1.03, 2.34) and maternal depression (OR 1.81, 95% CI: 1.22, 2.69). Having a parent who is a recent immigrant to Canada is associated with a reduced risk of hospitalization (OR 0.53, 95% CI: 0.35, 0.78). Conclusions. Most of the significant associations with hospitalization in the first 2 years of life in the Canadian population relate to the overall family's social and mental health. Maternal depression is a treatable disorder which if recognized might prevent some infant morbidity.

Author Keywords

national survey Child poverty Single parenthood Infant hospitalization Maternal depression

Index Keywords

depression immigrant hospitalization lowest income group logistic regression analysis demography poverty mental health human controlled study social aspect priority journal health status Maternal Behavior Infant, Premature family health statistical significance Confidence interval Humans family Infant, Newborn Canada male preschool child Socioeconomic Factors Infant risk factor Risk Factors Child, Preschool female Mothers population research psychodynamics child health prevalence Article single parent child hospitalization data analysis sample size prematurity Emigration and Immigration health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0742306879&doi=10.1111%2fj.1365-2214.2004.00390.x&partnerID=40&md5=10885930faeb2502863360236fc8911d
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2004.00390.x
ISSN: 03051862
Cited by: 21
Original Language: English