Assessing factors associated with poor maternal mental health among mothers of children born small and sick at 24-47 months in rural Rwanda.

Background: Global investments in neonatal survival have resulted in a growing number of children with morbidities surviving and requiring ongoing care. Little is known about the caregivers of these children in low- and middle-income countries, including maternal mental health which can further negatively impact child health and development outcomes. We aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with poor maternal mental health in mothers of children born preterm, low birthweight (LBW), and with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) at 24-47 months of age in rural Rwanda.

Developmental Outcomes of Preterm and Low Birth Weight Toddlers and Term Peers in Rwanda.

Background: As neonatal care improves in low-resource settings, more preterm or low birth weight (LBW) babies are surviving, but little is known about their long-term outcomes. Globally, preterm and/or LBW babies are at increased risk of mortality, malnutrition, and developmental delay.

Objectives: We aim to describe the differences in development in rural Rwandan children at 24-36 months of age born preterm and/or LBW compared to their peers born term or normal birth weight (term/NBW), and to assess factors associated with poor development.