Synergistic Effects of Unintended Pregnancy and Young Motherhood on Shaking and Smothering of Infants among Caregivers in Nagoya City, Japan

Abstract

BackgroundShaking and smothering in response to infant crying are forms of child abuse that often result in death. Unintended pregnancy and young motherhood are risk factors of such child maltreatment that are often comorbid, few studies have examined their synergistic effect on shaking and smothering of infants. We examined the synergistic effects of unintended pregnancy and young motherhood on shaking and smothering among caregivers of infants in Japan.MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, a questionnaire was administered to caregivers enrolled for a health check for 3- to 4-month-old infants between October 2013 and February 2014 in Nagoya City, Japan. The questionnaire data were linked to those from pregnancy notification forms registered at municipalities and included information on women’s age and feelings about their pregnancy (N = 4,159). Data were analyzed using logistic regression analysis in 2016.ResultsShaking and smothering of 3- to 4-month-old infants occurred at least once in the past month in 2.0 and 1.5% of cases, respectively. Of all participants, 24.8% reported unintended pregnancy while 7.3% were younger than 25 years old. Infants of young mothers (under 25 years old) with unintended pregnancy were 2.77 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.15–6.68] and 5.61 (95% CI: 2.40–13.1) times more likely to be shaken and smothered, respectively, than those of older mothers with intended pregnancy. In addition, the odds ratio of young mothers with unintended pregnancy regarding smothering was significantly higher than that of older mothers with unintended pregnancy (odds ratio: 2.12; p = 0.02).ConclusionOur findings suggest a synergistic effect of unintended pregnancy and young motherhood on smothering. Infants of young mothers with unintended pregnancy are at greater risk of abuse, especially smothering. Prevention strategies are required for young women with unintended pregnancies.

Association between Lack of Social Support from Partner or Others and Postpartum Depression among Japanese Mothers: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

“…As for subjective economic status, "difficult to manage" and "unstable" were collapsed for the analysis, since a low percentage of participants answered "unstable" (2.2%) [31]. The responses on feelings when they noticed the pregnancy of "muddled because it was unexpected", "puzzled" and "had no feeling" were collapsed to "unintended pregnancy" due to a low percentage of participants answering "muddled because it was unexpected" (6.1%), "puzzled" (0.2%) and "had no feeling" (0.2%), and these feelings were related to unintended pregnancy [32]. Similarly, for verbal and physical intimate partner violence, "a few times", "sometimes" and "often" were collapsed, since a low percentage of participants answered "sometimes" (3.7%, 0.3%) and "often" (0.5%, 0.1%) [33].…”

Prevalence and predictors for unintended pregnancy among HIV-infected pregnant women in Lira, Northern Uganda: a cross-sectional study

“…A woman who conceives and gets pregnant when she does not desire to will not to seek prenatal care early enough 8 , 10 . A baby born to a mother who did not desire her pregnancy is likely to have low birth weight and other life threatening issues 11 . Both parents to the baby may suffer economic hardship 11 .…”

“…A baby born to a mother who did not desire her pregnancy is likely to have low birth weight and other life threatening issues 11 . Both parents to the baby may suffer economic hardship 11 . Most importantly, WLH that experience unintended pregnancy are more likely not to adhere to the ART and hence frequently have elevated viral load counts 12 , 13 .…”

Incidence of and improvement in inappropriate parental behaviors of mothers with young children: a retrospective cohort study conducted in collaboration with a local government

“…Compared to affluent parents, parents with poor social capital have a higher tendency to hit their child with objects or their hands, cover their child’s mouth, or shake their child violently [ 24 ]. Young mothers who undergo an unintended pregnancy are at increased risk for perpetrating abuse, especially for covering their child’s mouth [ 25 ]. Furthermore, maternal isolation while parenting, postpartum depression after childbirth, and the inability to form attachments to the child can lead to inappropriate parental behavior [ 26 – 28 ].…”