Cross-cultural research on child development and maternal mental health in low- and middle-income countries

Of the more than 2 billion children worldwide, 90% live in low or middle-income countries, and are particularly vulnerable to early life exposures and experiences. A wide range of factors contribute to maternal and child well-being, including maternal depression as well as larger social determinants such as poverty. In this review, we provide a framework for conceptualizing interventions that can benefit vulnerable children and caregivers. We summarize effects of three types of interventions, including those that: target mothers to improve their mental health and may have indirect effects on children; target children directly through early child development programs and may provide indirect benefits to caregivers; and target broader social determinants of health (e.g. poverty, water and sanitation), which then may have indirect benefits for caregivers and children.