Lecture 'Maternal Mental Health and Child Outcomes: insights from longitudinal research in Ethiopia'
- For whom
- Alumni , Employees , Students
- When
- 22-11-2023 from 10:00 to 11:30
- Where
- Campus Dunant - leslokaal 1.3 (first floor), Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Gent
- Language
- English
- Organizer
- CESSMIR, Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy, Africa Platform, International Centre for Reproductive Health, Academic Network for Research on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights Policy, CliMigHealth, PSYNC & UNU-CRIS
- Contact
- Floor.Verhaeghe@UGent.be
- Website
- https://www.ugent.be/cessmir
Lecture by Prof dr. Habtamu and discussion by Prof dr. Keynaert on the nexus of maternal mental health – child development – disaster.
Women of childbearing age are at increased risk of common mental disorders (CMD), mainly depression. Risk factors for maternal CMD include low socioeconomic status, poor social support, substance abuse, stressful life events, intimate partner conflict, infant characteristics, natural and manmade disasters.
On top of the adverse effect on the individual woman’s life, maternal CMD has been found to affect her interaction with her children inflicting upon their development and education. Children are especially vulnerable to the negative effects of maternal CMD due to their dependence on their caregiver for both their physical and psychological needs.
A child’s early environment plays a critical role in learning and in the development of secure attachment, which provides the blueprint for future relationships and mental well-being of the child. Therefore, intense research is needed to develop advocacy and intervention for maternal mental health to enhance healthy and holistic development