Malnutrition is a critical health issue for children in developing countries, specifically severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in those under 5.
A study in Sudan found a high prevalence of maternal depression in mothers of malnourished children (41.5%) compared to controls (19.1%).
Maternal depression was significantly linked to higher odds of severe malnutrition in children, indicating a need for routine screening and treatment of depression in mothers at child health clinics.