Psychosocial characteristics of psychiatric inpatients with reproductive losses

Rising fertility rates among the severely and persistently mentally ill require a better understanding of the family planning needs of this population. In the present study, 82 women hospitalized for major psychiatric disorders were divided into three groups: abortion (n = 22), relinquishment (n = 28), and no children (n = 32). Statistical analyses of demographic, diagnostic, and birth control data showed that those who aborted or relinquished custody of their children were likely to come from ethnic minority populations and have a history of substance abuse. More than 70 percent of the women who had abortions reported sexual and/or physical assaults as either children or adults. Only 34 percent of all participants indicated that they used contraceptives. Increased awareness of reproductive histories and family planning needs of women with major psychiatric disorders is suggested.