Adverse Childhood Experiences and Changing Levels of Psychosocial Distress Scores across Pregnancy in Kenyan Women

Pauline Samia, Shahirose Premji, Farideh Tavangar, Ilona S. Yim, Sikolia Wanyonyi, Mohamoud Merali, Wangira Musana, Geoffrey Omuse, Ntonghanwah Forcheh, Aliyah Dosani, Nicole Letourneau and Consortium Might
Additional contact information
Pauline Samia: Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi 0100, Kenya
Shahirose Premji: School of Nursing, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
Farideh Tavangar: School of Nursing, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
Ilona S. Yim: Department of Psychological Science, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Sikolia Wanyonyi: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
Mohamoud Merali: Department of Counselling & Clinical Psychology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
Wangira Musana: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
Geoffrey Omuse: Department of Pathology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
Ntonghanwah Forcheh: School of Nursing, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
Aliyah Dosani: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Mount Royal University, Calgary, AB T3E 6K6, Canada
Nicole Letourneau: Faculty of Nursing and Cumming School of Medicine (Pediatrics, Psychiatry & Community Health Sciences), University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
Consortium Might: School of Nursing, Faculty of Health, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-12

Abstract: Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been associated with deleterious effects on mental health in pregnancy. Methods: The ACE International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) was used to measure neglect, abuse, and household dysfunction. Longitudinal mixed effect modelling was used to test the effect of ACEs on pregnancy-related anxiety, depressive symptoms, and perceived stress at two time points (12–19 and 22–29 weeks) during pregnancy. Results: A total of 215 women who were predominantly married (81%) and had attained tertiary education (96%) were enrolled. Total ACEs were significantly associated with depressive symptoms (r = 0.23, p < 0.05) and perceived stress (r = 0.18, p < 0.05). As depressive symptoms decreased, t (167) = −8.44, p < 0.001, perceived stress increased, t (167) = 4.60, p < 0.001, and pregnancy-related anxiety remained unchanged as pregnancy progressed. Contact sexual abuse ( p < 0.01) and parental death or divorce ( p = 0.01) were significantly associated with depression over time ( p < 0.01). Total ACEs in this study were associated with depressive symptoms early but not late in pregnancy. Conclusions: Higher total ACEs were positively associated with depressive symptoms and perceived stress during pregnancy, suggesting that mental disorders may have an impact on pregnancy outcomes and ought to be addressed. Further validation of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) tool in local settings is required.

Keywords: adverse childhood experiences; depression; pregnancy-related anxiety; perceived stress; psychosocial/perinatal distress (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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