Background: Maternal Mortality is a global health concern. The lack of suicide data, particularly in low and middle income countries, is concerning and needs to be addressed. Aim: This study assessed suicidality and associated factors during pregnancy and the postpartum period amongst women with known psychiatric diagnoses. Setting: The study sample included pregnant South African women over the age of 18 years with a psychiatric disorder who presented at two maternal mental health clinics. Method: Suicidality was assessed by means of psychiatric interviews – the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale. Results: The results revealed that women were at a higher risk of experiencing suicidality if they had attempted suicide before, presented at a later gestation for psychiatric care or were employed. It was also clear that multiple assessments, carried out by means of clinical interviews and various scales, were necessary to screen suicidality successfully in pregnant women diagnosed with psychiatric illness. Conclusion: The results confirmed the view of the World Health Organization that in order to promote mental health and well-being, women’s health should be viewed contextually, not in isolation. Screening for and treatment of perinatal mental illness, including suicidality, are essential if we hope to meet the maternal morbidity and mortality targets of the United Nations by 2030.

中文翻译：

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围产期自杀：南非患有精神疾病的妇女的危险因素

背景：孕产妇死亡率是全球性的健康问题。自杀数据的缺乏，特别是在中低收入国家，令人担忧，需要加以解决。目的：本研究评估了已知精神病诊断的妇女在怀孕期间和产后的自杀倾向及相关因素。地点：研究样本包括18岁以上患有精神病的南非孕妇，她们在两家产妇精神卫生诊所就诊。方法：通过精神病学访谈（迷你国际神经精神病学访谈和蒙哥马利·阿斯伯格抑郁量表）评估自杀倾向。结果：研究结果表明，如果女性以前曾尝试自杀，则有更高的自杀倾向，在以后的妊娠期接受精神科治疗或被雇用。同样清楚的是，必须通过临床访谈和各种量表进行多次评估，才能成功筛查诊断为精神病的孕妇的自杀倾向。结论：结果证实了世界卫生组织的观点，即为了促进精神健康和福祉，应从背景而不是孤立地看待妇女的健康。如果我们希望在2030年之前实现联合国的孕产妇发病率和死亡率指标，那么筛查和治疗围产期精神疾病（包括自杀性）就至关重要。在诊断出患有精神疾病的孕妇中成功筛查自杀的必要性。结论：结果证实了世界卫生组织的观点，即为了促进精神健康和福祉，应从背景而不是孤立地看待妇女的健康。如果我们希望在2030年之前实现联合国的孕产妇发病率和死亡率指标，那么筛查和治疗围产期精神疾病（包括自杀性）就至关重要。在诊断出患有精神疾病的孕妇中成功筛查自杀的必要性。结论：结果证实了世界卫生组织的观点，即为了促进心理健康和福祉，应从背景而不是孤立地看待妇女的健康。如果我们希望到2030年实现联合国的孕产妇发病率和死亡率指标，筛查和治疗围产期精神疾病（包括自杀性）至关重要。