Citation

Abdelghani M, Saad A, Khalil Y, Ibrahem MA, Badr MS, Saraya Y, Hassan MS. Eur. J. Psychiatry 2021; 35(2): 83-91.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Departmento de Psiquiatria de la Facultad de Medicina de Zaragoza)

DOI

10.1016/j.ejpsy.2020.11.005

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Background and objectives: Research on suicidal behaviors during pregnancy in Egypt is limited; being apparently rationalized by pregnancy is a protective period. This study aimed to address the current suicide risk (CSR), and evaluate its correlates of among pregnant women in Egypt.

METHODS: It is a cross-sectional study which included 835 of Egyptian pregnant women who were receiving their antenatal care at Zagazig University Obstetrics and Gynecology Outpatient clinics, during the period from 1 October 2017 to 30 September 2018. The sociodemographic and clinical data were collected by a simple semi-structured questionnaire. The psychometric assessment included Beck Suicidal Ideation Scale (BSS), Zagazig Depression Scale (ZDS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Axis II Personality Disorders (SCID-II) for assessment of CSR, and comorbid depression, anxiety and personality disorders, respectively.

RESULTS: Among pregnant women, 23.4% reported CSR. This included suicidal ideation of 21.6% and suicidal attempt of 1.8%. Predictors of CSR were history of intimate partner violence (IPV) exposure (OR 8.8, 95% CI: 2.8, 27.7), identification of their current pregnancy as a female baby (OR 6.9, 95% CI: 2.0, 23.5), previous history of fetal loss (OR 3.9, 95% CI: 1.5, 10.6), and moderate-to-severe depression (OR 3.0, 95% CI: 1.0, 8.7).

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that CSR, including suicidal ideation and attempts, is not rare during pregnancy. Exposure to IPV is the most robust predictor of CSR. Pregnant women should be routinely screened for suicidal behaviors, violence exposure and depressive symptoms, as part of their antenatal assessments. © 2020 Asociación Universitaria de Zaragoza para el Progreso de la Psiquiatría y la Salud Mental

Language: en

Keywords

adult; human; domestic violence; suicide; Suicide; female; Pregnancy; Intimate partner violence; suicidal ideation; depression; social support; suicide attempt; suicidal behavior; risk assessment; Personality; comorbidity; disease severity; major clinical study; personality disorder; self report; anxiety disorder; prenatal care; lifespan; Egypt; economic aspect; psychometry; cross-sectional study; demography; clinical study; exposure; physical abuse; partner violence; Article; pregnant woman; structured questionnaire; Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders; verbal hostility; semi structured interview; Hamilton Anxiety Scale; emotional abuse; DSM-IV-TR; depression assessment; behavior disorder assessment; Beck Suicidal Ideation Scale; current suicide risk; Egyptian; Zagazig Depression Scale