RESUMO
Objective To investigate the relationship of pregnancy-related anxiety of pregnant women in second/third trimesters and autism-like behaviors in their offspring at 18 months of age.Methods Based on a prospective cohort study design,we evaluated the situation of pregnancy-related anxiety of women during second and third trimesters through a Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire.Subjects under study were classified into three groups,1) those with pregnancy-related anxiety during both trimesters,2) those with pregnancy-related anxiety at one trimester and 3) those without pregnancy-related anxiety in either trimester.When their children were 18 months,autism-like behaviors (ALB) were evaluated,using the part A of Checklist for Autism in Toddlers-23,and then classified into three groups as non-ALB group,minor ALB group and major ALB group.Multi-nominal logistic Regression was used to analyze the relationship of pregnancy-related anxiety with autism-like behaviors.Results Compared with non-ALB group,children whose mother with pregnancy-related anxiety during both trimesters presented significant higher risk on ALB than children whose mother without pregnancy-related anxiety in these two periods (relative risk,RR=2.43,95％ CI:1.21-4.86,P=0.012),major factors as pregnant women's IQ and gestational diabetes mellitus,premature delivery and education levels of fosterers on these pregnant women were under control.Our results from the stratified analysis showed:when in the subgroup that mother was the main fosterer of the child,there was an significant increase of risk in children whose mothers with pregnancy-related anxiety during both trimesters (RR=4.22,95％ CI:1.73-10.32,P=0.002).Conclusion The association between pregnancy-related anxiety and autism-like behavior was not strong but influenced by the fosterer of the child.
RESUMO
Objective To investigate the relationship of pregnancy-related anxiety of pregnant women in second/third trimesters and autism-like behaviors in their offspring at 18 months of age.Methods Based on a prospective cohort study design,we evaluated the situation of pregnancy-related anxiety of women during second and third trimesters through a Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire.Subjects under study were classified into three groups,1) those with pregnancy-related anxiety during both trimesters,2) those with pregnancy-related anxiety at one trimester and 3) those without pregnancy-related anxiety in either trimester.When their children were 18 months,autism-like behaviors (ALB) were evaluated,using the part A of Checklist for Autism in Toddlers-23,and then classified into three groups as non-ALB group,minor ALB group and major ALB group.Multi-nominal logistic Regression was used to analyze the relationship of pregnancy-related anxiety with autism-like behaviors.Results Compared with non-ALB group,children whose mother with pregnancy-related anxiety during both trimesters presented significant higher risk on ALB than children whose mother without pregnancy-related anxiety in these two periods (relative risk,RR=2.43,95％ CI:1.21-4.86,P=0.012),major factors as pregnant women's IQ and gestational diabetes mellitus,premature delivery and education levels of fosterers on these pregnant women were under control.Our results from the stratified analysis showed:when in the subgroup that mother was the main fosterer of the child,there was an significant increase of risk in children whose mothers with pregnancy-related anxiety during both trimesters (RR=4.22,95％ CI:1.73-10.32,P=0.002).Conclusion The association between pregnancy-related anxiety and autism-like behavior was not strong but influenced by the fosterer of the child.