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Family planning needs and STD risk behaviours of female psychiatric out-patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

John H. Coverdale ,
Sarah H. Turbott  and
Helen Roberts
John H. Coverdale*
Affiliation:
University of Auckland, New Zealand
Sarah H. Turbott
Affiliation:
University of Auckland, New Zealand
Helen Roberts
Affiliation:
University of Auckland, New Zealand
*
Associate Professor John Coverdale, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Science, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92–019, Auckland, New Zealand
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Abstract

Background

There are few studies concerning the family planning needs of female chronic psychiatric patients. We aimed to determine the contraceptive needs and sexually transmitted disease (STD) risk-behaviours of female psychiatric out-patients.

Method

Sixty-six female out-patients with major psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and mood disorders, completed a semi-structured interview (response rate=63%) and were individually matched for age and ethnicity with 66 women who had never been treated for psychiatric illness. They answered questions on child-rearing and on their methods of contraception in relation to their attitudes towards pregnancy, as well as on their risk for STDs.

Results

Compared with controls, the female patients reported having had significantly more induced abortions and were significantly more likely to have given up their own children for others to raise. Heterosexually active psychiatric patients were significantly more likely than controls to have had more than one male sexual partner, to have been pressured into unwanted sexual intercourse, and to report having had sexual intercourse with a suspected bisexual over the preceding year.

Conclusions

These results underscore the priority for developing programmes that reduce female psychiatric patients' risk for unwanted pregnancies and STDs.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 171 , Issue 1 , July 1997 , pp. 69 - 72
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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