Background

Mental disorders during pregnancy can be associated with adverse delivery and neonatal outcomes, as well as a higher risk of postpartum mental disorders.

Objectives

This study was conducted to determine the factors associated with mental disorders in pregnant women.

Material and methods

Using stratified multistage random sampling, 332 participants were selected among pregnant women covered by health centres for prenatal care from April to September 2019 in the west of Iran. After obtaining informed consent from these people, the demographic questionnaire and the Persian version of the Goldberg GHQ-28 questionnaire were completed for them by a trained midwife. The data was analysed in SPSS 22 using descriptive statistics, the t-Test and ANOVA.

Results

The mean age and mean gestational age of the 332 pregnant women under study were 29.01 ± 5.44 years and 22.95 ± 8.95 weeks, respectively. About 32.5% (n = 108) of the women were suspected of having general mental health disorders. The mean scores of the subscales and general mental health disorders were significantly higher in pregnant women with unwanted pregnancy, marital dissatisfaction, a history of domestic violence and in those between 43–47 years of age (p < 0.05). However, the differences between the mean scores of the disorders were not statistically significant in women with a history of abortion and infertility, gestational age and gender, educational levels and occupation.

Conclusions

The results of this study showed that 32.5% of the pregnant women were suspected of having general mental health disorders. Mental health disorders were more common in pregnant women with unwanted pregnancy, marital dissatisfaction, a history of domestic violence in those between 43–47 years of age.