Sex differences in the association between smoking exposure and prevalence of wheeze and asthma in 3-year-old children.

Objective: We examined independent and joint associations between prenatal and postnatal smoking exposure and the prevalence of wheeze and asthma among 3-year-old Japanese children. Sex differences were also investigated.

Methods: Smoking exposure, allergic symptoms, and potential confounding factor data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire.

Perinatal maternal depressive symptoms and risk of behavioral problems at five years.

Background: Evidence on the association between perinatal maternal depression and children's behavioral development is limited. We investigated the association between maternal depressive symptoms during pregnancy and postpartum and the risk of childhood behavioral problems using data from a birth cohort study.

Methods: Study subjects were 1199 mother-child pairs.