MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH, PREGNANCY-RELATED PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGES, AND CHILD NEURODEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOMES: AN ANALYTICAL CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Maternal mental health and altered physiological parameters during pregnancy play a critical role in shaping the intrauterine environment, directly influencing fetal brain maturation and early childhood functional development. This study evaluated the interplay between maternal psychological wellbeing, pregnancy-related physiological adaptations, and subsequent neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring within a tertiary healthcare setting. Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted across the Obstetrics and Pediatrics departments of a tertiary care hospital from January 2025 to June 2025. A total of 250 mother-child dyads were enrolled via consecutive sampling. Maternal mental health was assessed using standardized psychometric tools, while maternal physiological parameters including mean arterial pressure, glycemic levels, lipid profiles, and inflammatory markers were retrieved from medical records. Offspring neurodevelopmental domains (cognitive, motor, language, and socio-emotional) were evaluated using validated developmental screening scales. Bivariate correlation and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of child neurodevelopment. Results: Elevated maternal psychological distress and key physiological alterations (specifically subclinical inflammation and glycemic dysregulation) demonstrated a significant negative correlation with child neurodevelopmental scores (p < 0.05). Multivariate regression revealed that maternal prenatal anxiety and depression, combined with altered maternal biological markers, independently predicted delayed motor and language milestones in offspring. Physiological strain partially mediated the association between maternal mental distress and lower socio-emotional developmental performance. Conclusion: Maternal prenatal mental health disorders and associated physiological changes significantly impair key domains of child neurodevelopment. Integrating routine psychological screening and biological monitoring into antenatal care protocols at tertiary facilities is essential for early risk identification and targeted early intervention strategies.