Maternal affectivity during pregnancy, motherchild relationship, infant′s health and development in Kinshasa

Introduction: the impact of prenatal maternal affectivity on infant development is poorly documented in Africa. The purpose of our study is to determine the relationship between mother feelings about pregnancy and childbirth, infant's behavior and development. Methods: one hundred and twenty mothers aged 28,4 years (+/- 12,18 years) with their babies aged 38,70 months (+/- 19,19) were enrolled in a cross-sectional study based on an interview and questionnaire on maternal affectivity, mother-child relationship, infant's behavior and psychosocial development. Maternal depression was assessed by Edinburgh (EPDS), Goldberg Depression and anxiety scales and DSM-IV (MINI) criteria. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests were used to describe the relationship between depression, anxiety and infant behavior and health. Results: unintended pregnancy and fear of childbirth were associated with high anxiety and depression scores. Negative feelings about pregnancy were associated with the lack of social support by the child's father (0.0110), stress when women were pregnant with a frustrated child (p=0.046), difficult consolability (p<0.001), poorer baby's health status (p=0.010), and depression identified by using EPDS (0,028). Fear of childbirth was associated with delayed or absent responses to infant's signals (p=0.002) and stress if they were carrying a frustrated baby (p=0.020). Conclusion: negative feelings during pregnancy are predictive of maternal depression, mother-child relationship disorders, infant's health and development.