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Common mental disorders in late pregnancy in women who wanted or attempted an abortion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 November 2009

A. B. Ludermir ,
T. V. Barreto de Araújo ,
S. A. Valongueiro  and
G. Lewis
A. B. Ludermir*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Medicina Social, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil
S. A. Valongueiro
Affiliation:
Departamento de Medicina Social, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil
G. Lewis
Affiliation:
Departamento de Medicina Social, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr A. B. Ludermir, Avenida Conselheiro Rosa e Silva, 377/1601, Graças, Recife, Pernambuco, C.E.P. 52020-220, Brasil. (Email: abl@ufpe.br)
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Abstract

Background

In countries where legal abortion is restricted, many unwanted pregnancies are carried to term. Attempting an unsuccessful abortion may influence women's mental health. This study investigated the common mental disorders (CMDs) of depression and anxiety in the third trimester of pregnancy in women who wanted or had attempted an abortion in a poor region of Brazil.

Method

CMDs were assessed by using the 20-item Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) in all pregnant women aged 18–49 years who were registered with publicly funded primary health care in Recife, Northeast Brazil.

Results

The study achieved a high response rate and 1121 (98.9%) women completed the interview. The prevalence of CMDs for the sample was 43.1% [95% confidence interval (CI) 40.2–46.1], and 63.6% (95% CI 55.4–71.2) among the 13.7% of women who attempted an abortion. The association between CMDs and attempted an abortion [odds ratio (OR) 2.05, 95% CI 1.3–3.1] remained after adjustment for confounders.

Conclusions

This study found that attempting an abortion in the current pregnancy was associated with CMDs. Good access to family planning programs, including access to contraceptive methods and safe abortion, should help to improve the mental health of women.

Keywords

AbortionanxietyBrazilcommon mental disordersdepressionpregnancyreproductive choice
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 40 , Issue 9 , September 2010 , pp. 1467 - 1473
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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