Mental distress and demographic, behavioral, obstetric characteristics, and health condition in pregnant women

Abstract

Introduction. Mental distress can have consequences for the health of women and children. Objective. To estimate the prevalence of mental distress and to identify its association with socioeconomic, demographic, health-related behaviors, obstetrics, and health status in pregnant women. Method. Cross-sectional study carried out with women undergoing prenatal care at the Unified Health System in Colombo-Paraná. The prevalence of mental distress was investigated using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire. Results. Among pregnant women (n = 605), the prevalence of mental distress was 47.9% (95% CI [44.0, 51.9]). After an adjusted analysis, the following was associated with the outcome: living without a partner (PR 1.27; 95% CI [1.06, 1.52]), having up to seven years of schooling (PR 1.30; 95% CI [1.04, 1.63]), performing moderate or intense physical activity (PR 1.47; 95% CI [1.02, 2.12]), consuming alcohol in the last 12 months (PR 1.29; 95% CI [1.08, 1.54]), being in the third pregnancy (PR 1.33; 95% CI [1.06, 1.67]), in the last trimester of pregnancy (PR 1.43; 95% CI [1.06, 1.94]), and the presence of a common pregnancy symptom (PR 1.56; 95% CI [1.15, 2.11]). Discussion and conclusion. Comprehensive mental health care during pregnancy is necessary especially for women in social vulnerability, at the end of pregnancy, and with worse health.

Health Behaviors in Pregnant Women with Psychological Problems and Disorders: Scoping Review

“…Given these considerations, this scoping review is poised to systematically explore and critically assess the scientific evidence on health behaviors among pregnant women facing psychological challenges. By utilizing the Prenatal Health Behaviors Scale (PHBS) to categorize behaviors into 'good' or 'bad' based on adherence to healthpromoting practices, this review aims to illuminate the pathways through which psychological well-being shapes maternal health behaviors (Harmel & Höfelmann, 2022b). Through this lens, the review seeks to contribute to a nuanced understanding of the interplay between psychological disorders and health behaviors during pregnancy, underpinning the development of holistic care strategies that address the multifaceted needs of pregnant women.…”

“…According to research, three important aspects of health behavior are not using drugs, not smoking, and engaging in minimal physical activity every week. Based on this category, it is grouped into good behavior if all the indicators are met, while if there is one that deviates, it is categorized into bad behavior (Harmel & Höfelmann, 2022a).…”