Examination of Maternal-based Familial Factors in Malnourished Pediatric Patients Without Illness-Dependent Cause: A Single-center Case-control Study

Abstract

Objective: Insufficient weight gain is one of the most common complaints in pediatric outpatient clinics in Turkey. This study aimed to investigate the effects of maternal psychiatric problems and familial factors on malnutrition in their children. Methods: A total of 34 mothers of malnourished children aged 0 16 years, who applied to the pediatric metabolism outpatient clinic without underlying organic disease and mothers of healthy individuals from the same age and gender group were included in the study. Socio-demographic status, Symptom Checklist-90, multidimensional scale of perceived social support (MSPSS), and scale for domestic violence against women scales evaluation results of both groups were compared. Results: An illness-dependent cause of malnutrition was not found in 34 of 127 (26.7%) patients. A statistical difference was found between the two groups in terms of educational status of parents, income level of the family, and work of the mother (p=0.008, p=0.039, p=0.009, and p=0.004, respectively). A statistical difference was found between the groups in terms of gestational week and the birth weight of the children (p=0.006 and p=0.011, respectively). The scores of cases who had planned pregnancy in the MSPSS were found to be statistically significantly higher than the cases without planned pregnancy (p=0.012). The rate of depression, somatization, obsession, sensitivity, and anxiety symptoms in cases with moderate or severe malnutrition severity was found to be statistically significantly higher than the cases with mild malnutrition (p=0.039, p=0.029, p=0.028, p=0.028, and p=0.011, respectively). Conclusion: Parental education level, mother’s working status, income level, mother’s environmental support, and child’s birth weight were determined as factors affecting the children’s nutritional status, malnutrition type, and severity by causing effects on maternal psychology.