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Depression and social support of pregnant women in fetuses with malformations attending at a maternal and child hospital public reference in Rio de Janeiro

INTRODUCTION: The pregnancy and postnatal period are the time of major prevalence of depression in women's life. Obstetric complications, including congenital malformations are important risk factors for depression during pregnancy. Mothers of fetuses with malformations experience a severe stressful life event. This fact could be aggravated by lack of social support. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to estimate depression in pregnant women with fetal malformations attended at a reference hospital fetal malformations in the Rio de Janeiro. METHOD: Interviews were conducted with 86 mothers of fetuses with malformations, which were assessed sociodemographic characteristics, clinical conditions/obstetric diagnosis of depression, social support and stressful life event. The period of study was from August 2011 to July 2012. RESULTS:The prevalence of depression during pregnancy was 17.4% (95%CI 0.09-0.26) and associated factor included being unemployed. The lack of emotional and information supports showed the highest frequency (57%). CONCLUSION:Depression is common during pregnancy of women with fetal malformations and was associated with indicators of socioeconomic deprivation. Psychosocial interventions and appropriate social policies need to be implemented in this population to reduce the burden of maternal depression.

depression; social support; pregnant; congenital abnormalities


Instituto de Estudos em Saúde Coletiva da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Avenida Horácio Macedo, S/N, CEP: 21941-598, Tel.: (55 21) 3938 9494 - Rio de Janeiro - RJ - Brazil
E-mail: cadernos@iesc.ufrj.br