PREGNANCYAND ITSPSYCHOLOGICALIMPLICATIONS:ANECESSARY REFLECTION
Keywords:
Pregnancy; Mental Health; Depression; Anxiety; Obstetric Nursing.Abstract
This article aims to analyze the available scientific evidence on the psychological
implications of pregnancy, identifying the main mental disorders associated with the
gestational period, their risk and protective factors, as well as obstetric nursing
interventions aimed at promoting maternal mental health. Methodologically, an
integrative literature review was used, searching the PubMed, SciELO, LILACS, and
Google Scholar databases using the descriptors "pregnancy," "mental health," "anxiety,"
"depression," "psychological implications," and "obstetric nursing." Studies published
between 2022 and 2026, in Portuguese and English, were included. The study results
indicate that the prevalence of gestational depression varies between 10% and 26%, while
anxiety affects 9.6% to 24.6% of pregnant women. The main risk factors include
unfavorable socioeconomic conditions, food insecurity, previous obstetric complications,
and low family support. Social and family support emerges as an important protective
factor. Complications during pregnancy and childbirth increase the likelihood of
depression, anxiety, and long-term post-traumatic stress disorder. The psychological
implications of pregnancy constitute a public health problem that demands qualified
attention from obstetric nursing, making the implementation of universal screening and
evidence-based interventions in prenatal care imperative
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