IJSR - International Journal of Scientific Research

Maha S Younis; Mohammad A Saeed; Afraa M. Al-Naddawi

Volume : VIII, Issue : VIII, August - 2019

PSYCHIATRIC MORBIDITY DURING PREGNANCY: A STUDY FROM HOSPITAL SETTING IN BAGHDAD

Maha S Younis, Mohammad A Saeed, Afraa M. Al Naddawi

Abstract :

Background: Pregnancy is one of the impactful events on women’s psychology, it places physical and mental burden on women which reshapes her psychological status. Psychiatric research on the morbidity rate and prevalence amongst Iraqi women is scarce and the data collected on this issue is scant. The purpose of this study is to examine psychiatric morbidity amongst pregnant women in Iraq. Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in a group of pregnant women and its association with socio–demography and other clinical variables. Method: A sample of 324 pregnant women were chosen from the antenatal care clinic in Baghdad Teaching Hospital in 2018. Consented women responded to the questions listed in the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ–28) and the demographic clinical data. Results: majority of respondents were multiparous young women from urban low–middle socio–economic class, 30% had other medical conditions. 55% of participants showed psychiatric morbidity. 15% had symptoms of depression, somatic symptoms were prevalent. Significant association between some selected demographic, clinical factors and the GHQ subscales was found. Discussion & Conclusion: psychiatric morbidity was prevalent in half of the participants manifested by somatic, anxiety, and depressive symptoms according to ( GHQ). A significant association was found between medical and/or obstetrical problems, psychological trauma, domestic violence, and psychiatric morbidity