Association between maternal depression symptoms and child telomere length.

The biological mechanisms that explain how adverse early life events influence adult disease risk are poorly understood. One proposed mechanism is via the induction of accelerated biological aging, for which telomere length is considered a biomarker. We aimed to determine if maternal depression pre- and post-partum was associated with telomere length in children at 4 years of age (n = 4299). Mothers completed structured questionnaires assessing depression during pregnancy (Edinburgh Depression Scale), at 9 months (Edinburgh Depression Scale), and at 54 months postpartum (Patient Health Questionnaire 9). Regression methods were used to investigate the relationship between telomere length (DNA from saliva) and maternal depression score recorded at each stage. Significant covariates included in the final model were: maternal age at pregnancy; child sex; child ethnicity; gestational age group, and rurality group. Child telomere length was found to be longer if their mother had a higher depression score at both postpartum time points tested (9 months of age; coefficient 0.003, SE = 0.001, P = 0.01, 54 months of age; coefficient 0.003, SE = 0.002, P = 0.02). Although these findings seem paradoxical, increased telomere length may be an adaptive response to early life stressors. We propose several testable hypotheses for these results and to determine if the positive association between depression and telomere length is a developmental adaptation or an indirect consequence of environmental factors.

Agreement between Future Parents on Infant Feeding Intentions and Its Association with Breastfeeding Duration: Results from the Growing Up in New Zealand Cohort Study.

Maternal intentions are believed to have the strongest influence on infant feeding. However, what has rarely been studied, are the associations of maternal and partner intentions, and the influence these factors have on infant feeding. Our objective was to describe breastfeeding intentions of pregnant women and their partners, agreement about these intentions, and whether this agreement is associated with breastfeeding initiation and duration. This study was completed within the Growing Up in New Zealand study. Agreement between mothers and partners on intended initial infant feeding method was fair (κ = 0.21, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.17⁻0.25) as was intended breastfeeding duration (κ = 0.25, 95% CI 0.22⁻0.28). Infants whose parents agreed antenatally on breastfeeding only were more likely to have been breastfed for >6 months, after adjustment for maternal (odds ratio (OR) = 6.3, 95% CI 3.9⁻10.2) and partner demographics (OR = 5.7, 95% CI 3.6⁻9.2). Likewise, infants whose parents agreed antenatally to breastfeed for >6 months were more likely to have been breastfed for >6 months, after adjustment for maternal (OR = 4.9, 95% CI 3.9⁻6.2) and partner demographics (OR = 5.0, 95% CI 4.0⁻6.3). Interventions that promote breastfeeding to both mothers and partners which enable parents to reach agreement about intended feeding methods have the potential to increase both breastfeeding initiation and duration.

Antenatal immunisation intentions of expectant parents: Relationship to immunisation timeliness during infancy.

BACKGROUND: Most women decide about infant immunisation during pregnancy. However, we have limited knowledge of the immunisation intentions of their partners. We aimed to describe what pregnant women and their partners intended for their future child's immunisations, and to identify associations between parental intentions and the subsequent timeliness of infant immunisation. METHODS: We recruited a cohort of pregnant New Zealand (NZ) women expecting to deliver between April 2009 and March 2010. The cohort included 11% of births in NZ during the recruitment period and was generalisable to the national birth cohort. We completed antenatal interviews independently with mothers and partners. We determined immunisation receipt from the National Immunisation Register and defined timely immunisation as receiving all vaccines (scheduled at 6-weeks, 3- and 5-months) within 30 days of their due date. We described independent associations of immunisation intentions with timeliness using adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: Of 6172 women, 5014 (81%) intended full immunisation, 245 (4%) partial immunisation, 140 (2%) no immunisation and 773 (13%) were undecided. Of 4152 partners, 2942 (71%) intended full immunisation, 208 (5%) partial immunisation, 83 (2%) no immunisation and 921 (22%) were undecided. Agreement between mothers and partners was moderate (Kappa=0.42). Timely immunisation occurred in 70% of infants. Independent of their partner's intentions, infants of pregnant women who decided upon full immunisation were more likely to be immunised on time (OR=7.65, 95% CI: 4.87-12.18). Independent of the future mother's intentions, infants of partners who had decided upon full immunisations were more likely to be immunised on time (OR=3.33, 95% CI: 2.29-4.84). CONCLUSIONS: During pregnancy, most future parents intend to fully immunise their child; however, more partners than mothers remain undecided about immunisation. Both future mothers' and future fathers' intentions are independently associated with the timeliness of their infant's immunisations.