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Psychology: Research and Review

Table 4 Summary of reviewed studies on suicidal ideation during pregnancy

From: Review of suicidal ideation during pregnancy: risk factors, prevalence, assessment instruments and consequences

Author and year

Country and highlights

Kalmbach et al., 2020

USA

Risk factors: insomnia and nocturnal rumination

Tabb et al., 2019

USA

Prevalence: 4.6%

Screening: EPDS

Rodriguez et al., 2018

South Africa

Prevalence: 39%

Risk factors: HIV, depression, intimate partner violence and younger age

Zhang et al., 2020

China

Screening: PHQ-9

Risk factor: child physical abuse

O'Connor et al., 2018

International

Risk factors: low socioeconomic background and intimate partner violence

Levey et al., 2019

Peru

Risk factor: child abuse

Gelaye et al., 2016

International

Risk factors: intimate partner violence, education less than 12 years and major depressive disorder

Onah et al., 2017

South Africa

Prevalence: 18%

Risk factors: major depressive episode, anxiety disorder, low socioeconomic status, food insecurity, interpersonal violence, multiparosity and previous suicide attempt throughout her life

Mebrahtu et al., 2020

Zimbabwe

Screening: EPDS

Risk factors: youth, singleness, hunger, high stress and symptoms of depression

Consequence for the baby: worse cognitive development

Rodriguez et al., 2017

South Africa

Prevalence: 39%

Risk factors: HIV, stigma and intimate partner violence

Chan et al., 2016

Malaysia

Risk factor: religious belief that premarital sex is wrong

Gelaye et al., 2019

Peru

Prevalence: 8.7%

Consequence for the baby: low birth weight

Shamu et al., 2016

Zimbabwe

Risk factor: emotional partner violence

Mikšić et al., 2018

Croatia

Prevalence: 2.73%

Risk factors: anxiety and depression

Gelaye et al., 2017

Peru

Screening: PHQ-9

Prevalence: 8.5%

Risk factor: poor quality of sleep

Zhong, Gelaye, et al., 2016

USA

Risk factors: be black and have low income

Supraja et al., 2016

India

Risk factors: youth, poor perceived support, intimate partner violence, depressive symptoms and history of suicide attempt

Zewdu et al., 2021

Ethiopia

Prevalence: 8.2%

Risk factors: depression, undisclosed HIV status and unwanted pregnancy

Luo et al., 2018

China

Prevalence: 8.2%

Risk factor: previous induced abortion

Weng et al., 2016

China

Risk factor: passive exposure to tobacco

Musyimi et al., 2020

Kenya

Risk factors: low economic status and intimate partner violence

Suzuki et al., 2019

International

Risk factors: passive exposure to tobacco

Palagini et al., 2019

Italy

Risk factor: stress-related sleep difficulties

Zhong, Wells, et al., 2016

Peru

Prevalence: 15.8%

Screening: PHQ-9

Risk factors: physical or sexual abuse during childhood

Vergel et al., 2019

Colombia

Prevalence: 7.2

Risk factors: obstetric risk during first trimester of pregnancy