Can lifetime exposure to intimate partner violence predict suicidality in a sample of Egyptian pregnant women: a cross-sectional study?

Background and objectives: Research on suicidal behaviors during pregnancy in Egypt is limited; being apparently rationalized by pregnancy is a protective period. This study aimed to address the current suicide risk (CSR), and evaluate its correlates of among pregnant women in Egypt. Methods: It is a cross-sectional study which included 835 of Egyptian pregnant women who were receiving their antenatal care at Zagazig University Obstetrics and Gynecology Outpatient clinics, during the period from 1 October 2017 to 30 September 2018. The sociodemographic and clinical data were collected by a simple semi-structured questionnaire. The psychometric assessment included Beck Suicidal Ideation Scale (BSS), Zagazig Depression Scale (ZDS), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), and Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Axis II Personality Disorders (SCID-II) for assessment of CSR, and comorbid depression, anxiety and personality disorders, respectively. Results: Among pregnant women, 23.4% reported CSR. This included suicidal ideation of 21.6% and suicidal attempt of 1.8%. Predictors of CSR were history of intimate partner violence (IPV) exposure (OR 8.8, 95% CI: 2.8, 27.7), identification of their current pregnancy as a female baby (OR 6.9, 95% CI: 2.0, 23.5), previous history of fetal loss (OR 3.9, 95% CI: 1.5, 10.6), and moderate-to-severe depression (OR 3.0, 95% CI: 1.0, 8.7). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that CSR, including suicidal ideation and attempts, is not rare during pregnancy. Exposure to IPV is the most robust predictor of CSR. Pregnant women should be routinely screened for suicidal behaviors, violence exposure and depressive symptoms, as part of their antenatal assessments. (C) 2020 Asociacion Universitaria de Zaragoza para el Progreso de la Psiquiatria y la Salud Mental. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved.