Suicide attempts during pregnancy in South Africa
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...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2018-04-01
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| Series: | South African Journal of Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1154 |
| _version_ | 1818246541721206784 |
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| author | Naseema B.M. Vawda |
| author_facet | Naseema B.M. Vawda |
| author_sort | Naseema B.M. Vawda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T14:50:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2a3fe3f47b1e4b5fb755efc5de5e9c4c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1608-9685 2078-6786 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T14:50:27Z |
| publishDate | 2018-04-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Journal of Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-2a3fe3f47b1e4b5fb755efc5de5e9c4c2022-12-22T00:21:01ZengAOSISSouth African Journal of Psychiatry1608-96852078-67862018-04-0124010.4102/sajpsychiatry.v24i0.1154395Suicide attempts during pregnancy in South AfricaNaseema B.M. Vawda0Department of Behavioural Medicine, University of KwaZulu NatalBackground: 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.https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1154Maternal mental healthinterpersonal relationshipsstressorsdepress |
| spellingShingle | Naseema B.M. Vawda Suicide attempts during pregnancy in South Africa South African Journal of Psychiatry Maternal mental health interpersonal relationships stressors depress |
| title | Suicide attempts during pregnancy in South Africa |
| title_full | Suicide attempts during pregnancy in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Suicide attempts during pregnancy in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Suicide attempts during pregnancy in South Africa |
| title_short | Suicide attempts during pregnancy in South Africa |
| title_sort | suicide attempts during pregnancy in south africa |
| topic | Maternal mental health interpersonal relationships stressors depress |
| url | https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/1154 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT naseemabmvawda suicideattemptsduringpregnancyinsouthafrica |