Maternal Mental Health and Child Development: Impact on Nutrition, Growth, and Well-Being in Kenya

A recent study by Abajobir et al. (2025) titled “Association between maternal mental health and early childhood development, nutrition, and common childhood illnesses in Khwisero subcounty, Kenya,” published in PloS One, reveals that poor maternal mental health and its impact on children can perpetuate cycles of poverty, ill-health, and underdevelopment.

This study explores the connection between maternal mental health and early childhood development (ECD), nutritional outcomes, and common illnesses among children in Khwisero sub-county, Kenya. Maternal mental health disorders pose a significant public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, affecting children’s growth, health, and overall well-being.

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Poor maternal mental health negatively affects children’s nutrition and development, with socioeconomic factors playing a crucial role in child well-being and growth. – Abajobir et al. 2025

Surveying mothers from socioeconomically disadvantaged households, the research assessed maternal mental health using a standardized depression scale while evaluating children’s developmental milestones, nutritional status, and health records. Findings revealed that children of mothers with poor mental health were more likely to experience suboptimal developmental and nutritional outcomes. Although maternal mental health had a measurable impact on ECD, its statistical significance was limited. Socioeconomic factors, particularly household wealth, emerged as key determinants of children’s health and development.

The study underscores the need to improve maternal mental health and socioeconomic conditions to enhance children’s development, nutrition, and overall well-being. It advocates for longitudinal studies to further explore these associations and strengthen evidence for targeted interventions.

How the Study was Conducted

This study employed a cross-sectional analysis in Khwisero sub-county, Kenya, focusing on low-income households to examine the relationship between maternal mental health and early childhood development (ECD), nutritional outcomes, and child health. Conducted as part of a broader program evaluation of the Innovative Partnership for Universal and Sustainable Healthcare (i-PUSH), the research utilized endline survey data from a cluster randomized controlled trial.

Participants were selected through a multi-stage process. From a pool of 239 villages near two health facilities, 24 villages were randomly chosen. A household census identified eligible families, and 10 households per village were randomly selected, focusing on women of childbearing age with children under five years old. Data collection involved assessing maternal mental health using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), evaluating ECD through validated tools measuring cognitive and socio-emotional development in children aged 8–60 months, and determining nutritional status using anthropometric indicators like height, weight, and mid-upper arm circumference. Additionally, child health data was gathered through caregiver-reported illnesses experienced in the past two weeks.

The study applied both univariate and multivariate logistic regression models to analyze associations while considering household and socioeconomic factors. Ethical approval was granted by Amref Health Africa’s Ethical and Scientific Review Committee, and informed consent was obtained from all participants. The findings contribute to understanding how maternal mental health impacts children’s development, nutrition, and well-being, emphasizing the importance of addressing socioeconomic challenges to improve child health outcomes.

What the Authors Found

The authors found that mothers with poor mental health (high CES-D scores) had children who showed reduced early childhood development (ECD) outcomes across various domains like cognitive, language, and socio-emotional development. However, these associations were not statistically significant after adjusting for other factors. The authors also posit that maternal mental health was negatively associated with children’s nutritional outcomes (e.g., stunting, underweight, and wasting). These associations were significant, suggesting that poor maternal mental health could impact children’s growth.

Why is this important?

Impact on Early Childhood Development (ECD): Early childhood is a critical period for physical, cognitive, and emotional development. Poor maternal mental health can negatively influence a child’s ability to thrive, highlighting the need for interventions that address both maternal and child well-being.

Nutritional and Health Outcomes: The study found a connection between maternal mental health and children’s nutritional status. Addressing maternal mental health could help combat stunting, wasting, and other forms of malnutrition, which are major public health challenges in low-income settings.

Breaking the Cycle of Poverty and Poor Health: Poor maternal mental health and its impact on children can perpetuate cycles of poverty, ill-health, and underdevelopment. Targeted interventions could help improve maternal well-being and, in turn, give children a better chance at healthier, more prosperous lives.

Policy and Program Design: The findings emphasize the need for holistic healthcare programs that integrate maternal mental health services into child healthcare and nutrition programs. These insights can guide policymakers and organizations in designing more effective, evidence-based interventions.

Advancing Research: The study underscores the importance of further longitudinal research to explore the dynamics between maternal mental health and child development. This can help build a stronger evidence base to inform future healthcare practices.

What the Authors Recommended

• The authors advocate developing targeted mental health interventions and integrating them into existing maternal and child healthcare programs in low-resource settings.
• Promoting routine mental health screenings for women, especially those of childbearing age, to identify and address mental health disorders early.
• The study emphasizes implementing policies and programs aimed at reducing poverty and improving the socioeconomic conditions of low-income households. This includes providing financial support, enhancing access to education, and creating employment opportunities for women.
• The study also emphasizes strengthening public health campaigns to educate caregivers on proper child nutrition, healthcare practices, and early developmental milestones.
• Enhancing access to quality healthcare facilities and services for children to ensure timely interventions for health and nutritional issues.
• In addition, the authors recommend conducting future longitudinal studies to better understand the long-term effects of maternal mental health on child development, nutrition, and health outcomes.
• Furthermore, explore additional risk and protective factors that influence maternal mental health and child well-being.

In conclusion, the study by Abajobir et al. (2025) highlights the critical link between maternal mental health and early childhood development, nutrition, and overall child well-being. While the direct impact of maternal mental health on developmental milestones showed limited statistical significance, its influence on child nutrition was notable. The findings emphasize the urgent need for integrated maternal and child healthcare programs, routine mental health screenings, and socioeconomic interventions to break cycles of poverty and poor health. By addressing maternal mental health, policymakers and healthcare providers can significantly improve children’s long-term health outcomes, fostering a healthier and more prosperous future for vulnerable communities.