| Summary: | Introduction: A significant body of evidence highlights the association between maternal depression and malnutrition among young children in industrialised countries. However, studies in developing countries, including Malaysia, remain scarce. This case-control study aims to determine the association between maternal depression and malnourished children among young children in the rural community. Methods: Participants were malnourished (cases: n = 62) and well-nourished (controls: n = 62) children that was referred to all governmental health clinics in the Kuala Langat district, Selangor. Cases were matched with controls by age, gender, socioeconomic status and residential area. The existence of current maternal depression was evaluated using the validated Malay translated version of the Beck Depression Inventory Second Edition, and its association with undernourished children was expressed as odds ratios.Results: Binary logistic regression analysis shows that current maternal depression was associated with the risk of malnutrition in children (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.03 – 4.61). Mothers who experienced depression were 2.2 times more likely to have malnourished children. Conclusion: Current maternal depression is a single risk factor for malnutrition among young children in this studied community. Upon a preliminary screening to detect symptoms of depression, preventive measures should be implemented at the early stage of pregnancy. Advice on optimising mothers’ mental health should be integrated as part of prenatal and postnatal care to remove of minimize the detrimental effect in children’s growth and development. © 2021 UPM Press. All rights reserved.
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