Maternal Depression as Predictor of Repeat Child Unintentional Injury

Webster Krause, Lisa Ruth, Maternal Depression as Predictor of Repeat Child Unintentional Injury. Master of Public Health (Community Health), December 2004, 39 pp., 4 tables, references 28 titles. Current literature supports maternal depression as a predictor of child unintentional injury. There have been conflicting results concerning mediating and other risk factors. This study aims to reexamine the link between maternal depression and the occurrence of repeat child unintentional injury in the home. Using the NHIS 2002 data maternal depression was found to predict child repeat unintentional injury in this national sample. It was found that the most predictive model of repeat unintentional injury in this national sample. It was found that the most predictive model of repeat child unintentional injury consisted of maternal depression and low-income. Since maternal depression and low-income have been identified as underlying determinants of child unintentional injury, they should be a priority in prevention efforts so as to more effectively reduce the occurrence of repeat unintentional injury among children in the home.