Perinatal psychology and maternal mental health: A study with pregnant women in the family health strategy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21527/2176-7114.2026.51.17046Keywords:
Perinatal psychology, Pregnancy, Mental health, Family Health Strategy, Prenatal careAbstract
Objective: To analyze, from the perspective of perinatal psychology, the mental health status of pregnant women followed up in prenatal care in a Family Health Strategy service and explore the relationship between biopsychosocial factors and mental health during pregnancy. Method: This qualitative study was carried out between February and October 2024. The participants were 27 pregnant women between 18 and 42 years old in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. For data collection, a semistructured interview was conducted, and the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) was used as an auxiliary instrument. Results: Content analysis resulted in the following 5 categories: Social representations about motherhood; Subjective history and mental health conditions; Perceptions attributed to the birth experience; Maternity, work, and subsistence; Support network. The EPDS, with a cutoff point of 10, screened depressive symptoms in 51.85% of the sample. The risk factors and mental health protective factors identified in the study sample were shown to be determinants of maternal mental health status. Conclusion: The results reinforce the need to expand public policies for maternal mental health care in Primary Health Care (PHC), promoting benefits for the mother, the mother–infant bond, and child development, with a positive impact in the long term.
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