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Multicenter Study
. 2025 Sep 8:34:e20240226.
doi: 10.1590/S2237-96222025v34e20240226.en. eCollection 2025.

A multicenter study on the mental health of Brazilian adolescent mothers, 2024

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Amanda Ferreira de Carvalho  1   2 , Daniela Dal Forno Kinalski Guaranha  1 , Bruna Marmett  1 , Júlia Mathias Reis  1 , Bruna Silveira da Rosa  1 , Carmem Lisiane Escouto de Souza  1 , Tiago Chagas Dalcin  1 , Sérgio Luís Amantéa  1 , Frederico Viana Machado  2
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

A multicenter study on the mental health of Brazilian adolescent mothers, 2024

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Amanda Ferreira de Carvalho et al. Epidemiol Serv Saude. .

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Objective: To analyze the mental health of Brazilian adolescent mothers who use the Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde, SUS).

Methods: This is a multicenter study conducted with 583 adolescent mothers (10-19 years old). The participants responded to a questionnaire on sociodemographic variables, mental health and family support. The results were presented as absolute and relative frequencies. The association between outcome and variables was investigated using Poisson regression.

Results: Some level of depression (61.9%) and anxiety (63.8%) was present in the adolescents. These symptoms were associated with a lack of family support (p-value<0.001), the loss of school friends (p-value<0.001), the diagnosis of postpartum depression (p-value<0.001), and the diagnosis of depression or anxiety before or during pregnancy (p-value<0.001). 15.9% of the adolescents diagnosed with mental health conditions were being treated. The main barriers identified were difficulties in access to psychological support, lack of interest and lack of encouragement.

Conclusion: The study revealed worrying rates of depression and anxiety among teenage girls. The importance of family support was emphasized, the absence of which is linked to increased symptoms of mental distress. The impact of the loss of social ties and a history of mental health problems, such as postpartum depression, is highlighted. 15% of the adolescents had psychological monitoring, which makes evident the barriers to access to mental health. The results underline an urgent need for interventions and public policies to improve access to psychological support and to promote the mental health of this population.

Objetivo: Analizar la salud mental de madres adolescentes brasileñas usuarias del Sistema Único de Salud.

Métodos: Se trata de un estudio multicéntrico realizado con 583 madres adolescentes (10-19 años). Los participantes respondieron el cuestionario sobre variables sociodemográficas, salud mental y apoyo familiar. Los resultados se presentaron como frecuencias absolutas y relativas. La asociación entre el resultado y las variables se investigó mediante regresión de Poisson.

Resultados: Se encontró algún nivel de depresión en el 61,9% de los adolescentes y ansiedad en el 63,8%. Estos síntomas se asociaron con falta de apoyo familiar (p-valor<0,001), pérdida de amigos de la escuela (p-valor<0,001), diagnóstico de depresión posparto (p-valor<0,001) y diagnóstico de depresión o ansiedad antes o durante el embarazo (p-valor<0,001). Los adolescentes diagnosticados con problemas de salud mental que estaban siendo monitoreados totalizaron el 15,9%. Las principales barreras identificadas fueron las dificultades para acceder al apoyo psicológico, el desinterés y la falta de estímulo.

Conclusión: El estudio reveló tasas preocupantes de depresión y ansiedad entre los adolescentes. Se destacó la importancia del apoyo familiar, cuya ausencia se relaciona con un aumento de los síntomas de malestar mental. Se destacó el impacto negativo de la pérdida de vínculos sociales y los antecedentes de problemas de salud mental, como la depresión posparto. Los adolescentes que recibían apoyo psicológico representaban el 15,9%, lo que evidencia barreras para acceder a la salud mental. Los resultados destacaron la urgencia de intervenciones y políticas públicas para mejorar el acceso al apoyo psicológico y promover la salud mental de esta población.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: None to declare.

References

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