Scientific Letter
Suicide attempts during pregnancy in South Africa
Submitted: 18 July 2017 | Published: 16 April 2018
About the author(s)
Naseema B.M. Vawda, Department of Behavioural Medicine, University of KwaZulu Natal, South AfricaAbstract
Background: Research on suicide attempts during pregnancy is limited as these are considered to be rare in the perinatal period.
Aim: A retrospective pilot study was undertaken to establish what percentage of suicide attempters admitted to a hospital were pregnant and to identify their clinical and sociodemographic characteristics.
Setting: The study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Durban, South Africa.
Methods: A retrospective chart review was undertaken of all female patients admitted following suicide attempts over a period of 1 year. Clinical and sociodemographic data of pregnant suicide attempters were extracted.
Results: Of 27 charts reviewed, 33% (n = 9) patients were pregnant at the time of the attempt. V Code diagnoses predominated, followed by major depressive disorder. Past psychiatric diagnoses and suicide attempts were also present
Conclusion: Suicide attempts during pregnancy are not rare. Pregnant women should be routinely screened for prior suicide attempts, depression and stressors as part of perinatal assessments.
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Crossref Citations
1. ‘They Sent Me Out to School, and I Came Back with a Baby’: Perinatal Women’s Experiences of Biographical Disruption and Nonfatal Suicidal Behaviour
Pamela Zungu, Kerry-Ann Louw, Philip Slabbert, Jason Bantjes
Qualitative Health Research vol: 32 issue: 12 first page: 1767 year: 2022
doi: 10.1177/10497323221119314