Lack of social support and other factors can cause pregnant more susceptible to mental disorders such as depression. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between perceived social support and prevalence of depression in pregnant attended in a primary care unit of Nova Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro. The study included 100 women and verified the sociodemographic characteristics, obstetric and medical complications, stressful life events and social support. Depression was evaluated using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. The prevalence of depression during pregnancy was 18% (95%CI 12.2-23.8), and the associated factors in the final analysis were: being single, unemployed, with a prior history of depression and smoking. In the initial analysis, there was significant association (p<0.05) between lack of social support and depression. The absence of information and social interaction during the prenatal period, and its initial association with depression, shows the failings of the full health care services for pregnant. Our findings show that psychosocial interactions and social policies should be implemented for this population.
pregnancy; social support; risk factors; depression