Maternal perinatal anxiety and infant primary care use in 1998–2016: a UK cohort study

Smith, Holly Christina; Archer, Charlotte; Bailey, James; Chew Graham, Carolyn; Evans, Jonathan; Fisher, Tamsin; Kessler, David; Kingstone, Tom; Procter, Janine; Shivji, Noureen; Silverwood, Victoria; Spruce, Amy; Turner, Katrina; Wu, Pensée; Yu, Dahai; Petersen, Irene

Abstract

There is some evidence that perinatal anxiety (PNA) is associated with lower rates of infant vaccinations and decreased access to preventative infant healthcare, but results across studies have not been conclusive. To investigate the relationship between maternal PNA and infant primary care use. Cohort study of mother-infant pairs identified between 1998 and 2016 using IQVIA Medical Research Database (IMRD). PNA was identified through prescription, diagnosis and symptom records from start of pregnancy up to 1 year after birth. Outcomes include primary care consultation rate, attendance at the 6-8 week infant check and uptake of the infant 5-in-1 vaccination, comparing unadjusted rates of consultations and using logistic regression to analyse other outcomes. Of the 248 618 women, 11 558 (4.7%) had a record of PNA. Infants of mothers with PNA had, on average, one more primary care consultation/person-year compared with those without (9.7 vs 8.7) in the year after birth. Mothers with PNA were more likely to have an infant who was vaccinated (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.33, 95% CI 1.20 to 1.48) but were less likely to have a record of attendance at the 6-8 week infant check (aOR 0.88, 95% CI 0.81 to 0.95). Infants of mothers with PNA had, on average, a slightly higher rate of primary care consultations and were more likely to be vaccinated but less likely to have a record of an infant check. Midwives and General Practitioners (GPs) providing care should consider how PNA may impact on infant health and how infant health may impact on maternal anxiety. [Abstract copyright: © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.]

Citation

Smith, H. C., Archer, C., Bailey, J., Chew Graham, C., Evans, J., Fisher, T., Kessler, D., Kingstone, T., Procter, J., Shivji, N., Silverwood, V., Spruce, A., Turner, K., Wu, P., Yu, D., & Petersen, I. (2025). Maternal perinatal anxiety and infant primary care use in 1998–2016: a UK cohort study. BMJ Mental Health, 28(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjment-2024-301160

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 24, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Jan 9, 2025
• Publication Date: 2025-01
• Deposit Date: Jan 31, 2025
• Journal: BMJ Mental Health
• Electronic ISSN: 2755-9734
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: e301160
• Pages: 1-8
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjment-2024-301160
• Keywords: Infant, Newborn, Female, Cohort Studies, Data Interpretation, Statistical, Anxiety - epidemiology, Adult, Humans, Pregnancy, Anxiety disorders, Male, Vaccination - statistics & numerical data, Pregnancy Complications - epidemiology, Infant, Primary Health Care - statistics & numerical data, Young Adult, Mothers - psychology - statistics & numerical data, United Kingdom - epidemiology
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/1051623