Perinatal Depression Treatment and Child Development

Perinatal Depression Treatment and Child Development: A Follow-Up of the Thinking Healthy Programme

The purpose of this study is to examine whether the successful perinatal depression intervention among mothers (Thinking Healthy Programme, THP) has led to improved developmental outcomes in the children 6 years later. Economic and human resources aspects of the intervention will also be evaluated to determine overall societal benefits from investment in such a program, feasibility of scaling up the intervention and its sustainability in the long-term. The primary hypothesis is that children of mothers who participated in the THP will have better cognitive outcomes and socio-emotional functioning when compared to children of mothers randomized to the control group.

Inclusion Criteria:

• children of women who were eligible to participate in the Thinking Healthy Programme

Exclusion Criteria:

• developmental disability, visual or hearing impairment