Introduction:

Gestation is a period in the life of the woman that exposes her to various physical and psychic changes. It is at this point in her life that a woman is more likely to develop mental disorders, which may be related to low level of schooling and/or socioeconomic status, being female, being single or separated, having no job, being a smoker, and have a family history of mental illness.

Objective:

to analyze the occurrence of mental illness in pregnant women and the associated factors.

Method:

cross-sectional study with quantitative approach. The study population consisted of pregnant women enrolled in Family Health Units. To collect the data, a questionnaire was used with identification data of the participants and the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20). Absolute and relative frequency were used to analyze the data, as well as the chi-square test without correction, chi-square test with Mantel-Haenzel extension and the chi-square test with yacht correction to analyze the association between mental illness and socio-demographic, gestational and health variables. Study approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Pernambuco (CAAE 64945317.1.0000.5208).

Results:

the proportion of suggestion of mental illness in pregnant women was 31.9% and was associated with being single, having studied until elementary school, not having planned pregnancy and having a chronic illness.

Conclusions:

therefore, the mental illness identified in pregnant women participating in the study may be associated with variables marital status, schooling, pregnancy planning, and chronic illness.

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