Maternal health and health-related behaviours and their associations with child health: Evidence from an Australian birth cohort

Objective This study investigates the associations between maternal health and health-related behaviours (nutrition, physical activity, alcohol consumption smoking) both during pregnancy up to 15 months from childbirth children’s outcomes infancy adolescence (general health, presence of a chronic illness, outcome index). Methods used Wave 1 (2004) 7 (2016) data Longitudinal Survey Australian Children (LSAC). We measured mothers’ general medical condition mental or in year after childbirth. subsequently condition, index at ages 0–1 (infancy) 12–13 (adolescence). Binary logistic linear regression analyses were performed examine association variables their health. Results Our results showed that poor mother was associated with higher odds infants adolescents all three dimensions: (OR: 3.13, 95% CI: 2.16–4.52 for infants; OR: 1.39, 0.95–2.04 adolescents), 1.47, 1.19–1.81 adolescents) lower score (b = ?0.94, p-value <0.05 adolescents). also revealed mothers significantly increased likelihood offspring 1.31, 1.12–1.54) 1.45, 1.20–1.75). The found stressful life events faced by increase any illness adolescence, while stress, anxiety depression psychological distress infancy. Conclusions present evidence has adverse consequences as conditions, scores. suggests initiatives improve would not only child but reduce national burden.