Mental Health
Risk factors for mental disorders in pregnant women: A comparison between the Jundiaí and Araraquara cohorts in Brazil Audêncio Victor* Audêncio Victor Perla Pizzi Argentato Liania A. Luzia Rinaldo Artes Patricia Helen Rondó
Introduction: Mental disorders during pregnancy are a significant public health problem due to the substantial physiological and psychological changes that occur during this period. This study aims to investigate the risk factors for mental disorders in pregnant women by comparing data from two distinct cohorts in Jundiaí and Araraquara, Brazil.
Methods: This is a prospective cohort study that included pregnant women from two Brazilian cohorts. The Jundiaí cohort (1997-2000) included 865 pregnant women, while the Araraquara cohort (2017-2023) included 755 pregnant women. Socioeconomic, demographic, obstetric history, and mental health data were collected and analyzed. Mental health was assessed using standardized questionnaires, including the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Statistical analysis included bivariate tests and univariate and multivariate random-effects models for panel data.
Results: The results indicated higher levels of anxiety, depression, and perceived stress in the Araraquara cohort compared to the Jundiaí cohort study. Socioeconomic factors such as being single, separated or widowed, lower per capita income, lower educational levels, higher household density, and morbidity during pregnancy such as urinary infection, pyelonephritis, gestational hypertension, tuberculosis, cervicitis, and vaginitis were the risk fators identified.
Conclusions: The findings of this study highlight the need for targeted interventions for pregnant women in vulnerable situations, including socioeconomic support, improvements in living conditions, and access to adequate health care. Additionally, it is essential to integrate mental health services into prenatal care to monitor and treat health complications that may affect the mental health of pregnant women.
Keywords: Mental disorders, pregnancy, depression, risk factors, public health.
