Maternal Common Mental Disorders and childhood malnutrition in two rural provinces of Zimbabwe: A case-control study

Abstract Background: Maternal mental health is often neglected in low-income countries. Whilst maternal physical comorbidities are known to be associated with child malnourishment, the evidence for the role of maternal common mental disorders (CMD) in childhood stunting is unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between maternal CMD and childhood stunting in Zimbabwe. Method: A locally developed and validated Shona Symptom Questionnaire was used to assess for the presence of CMD among 397 mothers of children in Manicaland and Matabeleland South Provinces, Zimbabwe. Results: A maternal CMD prevalence of 29.5% was calculated, of which 31.2% were among mother of children who were identified as stunted. A significant relationship between maternal CMDs and childhood malnutrition (stunting, underweight and wasting) was identified p<0.05. Household wealth, family and spousal support, morbidity, fertility, child spacing, and death of a spouse were identified as statistical significant predictors of maternal CMD. Conclusion: This study reports a significantly high burden of maternal CMD in Zimbabwe as well as confirming presence of a cause effect relationship between childhood malnutrition and maternal CMD. Policy makers and public health interventions are more likely to be effective in controlling childhood malnutrition when they consider the inclusion of prevention and appropriate management of maternal CMD.