Experience of reproductive concerns in women with schizophrenia: A descriptive phenomenological study

Reproductive concerns significantly affect the mental health of people, causing more serious psychological stress than disease. The reproductive concerns faced by women with schizophrenia are issues that have been neglected in the areas of psychiatry and women's health.

To explore the experience of reproductive concerns through the perspective of women with schizophrenia.

Descriptive phenomenology interview study.

Data collection was carried out in a psychiatric hospital in China.

15 women with schizophrenia were recruited with a prospective sampling. All participants were 26-40 years old.

The interview recordings were transcribed by the research team, and transcripts were analyzed by two independent coders with Colaizzi's descriptive analysis framework. The process employed NVivo 12 software.

Data analysis identified 9 subthemes falling into the 4 macrothemes: (a) Potential risks of reproduction; (b) The difficulties in raising children; (c) Significance of reproduction; (d) Multiparty cooperation is needed to relieve reproductive concerns.

Women with schizophrenia have reproductive concerns under the conflict between the significance of reproduction and obstacles. Interventions to address the reproductive problems of women with schizophrenia should be developed in three areas: the women themselves, the women's spouses and the medical staff.