Suicide during pregnancy and its neglect as a component of maternal mortality

OBJECTIVES: To raise awareness about the socio-cultural factors which may lead pregnant women to commit suicide. METHODS: This paper reviews and compiles current international literature on this topic, and suggests comparison with evidence from the past. RESULTS: Suicide during pregnancy is often due to the limited choices women face when confronted with an unwanted pregnancy. Neglect of this subject is due in part to the exclusion of suicide from classification as 'maternal death,' and other difficulties in collecting reliable data. CONCLUSIONS: The problem of suicide during pregnancy underscores the need for sex education at an early age, access to family planning, and access to safe abortion services.