Abstract
This study investigates the association between maternal trauma history (lifetime exposure to physical and sexual violence), maternal mental health and child behavior. Pregnant women attending the Instituto Nacional Materno Perinatal (INMP) in Lima, Peru, were recruited to join the study beginning in February 2012. Maternal trauma history and prenatal mental health were assessed at 16-weeks gestation and mothers completed the Child Behavior Checklist when children were four years old. We used causal mediation analysis to examine the association between maternal trauma history and child behavior. This study population included 631 mother-child dyads; 74% of mothers reported one or more lifetime episodes of intimate partner violence (IPV). We found that 32% of the association between maternal lifetime exposure to IPV and child internalizing behavior was mediated by prenatal anxiety. Our findings suggest that prevention and treatment of perinatal IPV and mental health disorders should be prioritized.