High burden of grief and mental health symptoms following perinatal loss: a cross-sectional study in a Brazilian sample

High burden of grief and mental health symptoms following perinatal loss: a cross-sectional study in a Brazilian sample | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 31 October 2025 V1 Latest version Share on High burden of grief and mental health symptoms following perinatal loss: a cross-sectional study in a Brazilian sample Authors : Juliana Salum de Oliveira Molinari 0009-0006-5457-8811 [email protected] , Fabiana Schuelter-Trevisol , Luciana de Avila Quevedo , and Betine Pinto Moehlecke Iser Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176189053.34228909/v1 254 views 102 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Design: Cross-sectional study using validated self-report screening instruments. Setting: Nationwide online survey conducted in Brazil, a middle-income country with significant regional disparities in healthcare access. Population: A total of 387 parents (94.6% women) who had experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal death within the previous 36 months. Methods: Participants completed the Perinatal Grief Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Impact of Event Scale-Revised. Associations between symptom levels and type of loss or time since loss were examined using comparative analyses. Main outcome measures: Prevalence of clinically significant symptoms and their associations with type and timing of perinatal loss. Results: High prevalence rates were observed for grief (61.8%), anxiety (70.8%), depression (63.0%), and PTSD (52.5%). Symptoms of grief and depression were significantly higher among parents who experienced stillbirth or neonatal death and among those with more recent losses (<6 months). Conclusions: Bereaved Brazilian parents experience a high psychological burden following perinatal loss, with symptom rates exceeding those typically reported in international studies. The findings highlight the urgent need for systematic mental health screening and psychosocial support for affected families, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Supplementary Material File (figures_bjog.docx) Download 466.80 KB File (manuscript_bjog.docx) Download 44.38 KB File (tables_bjog.docx) Download 20.76 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 31 October 2025 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords bereavement counselling developing countries: obstetrics and gynaecology epidemiology miscarriage psychiatry psychology Authors Affiliations Juliana Salum de Oliveira Molinari 0009-0006-5457-8811 [email protected] Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina - Campus Tubarao View all articles by this author Fabiana Schuelter-Trevisol Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina - Campus Tubarao View all articles by this author Luciana de Avila Quevedo Universidade Catolica de Pelotas View all articles by this author Betine Pinto Moehlecke Iser Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina - Campus Tubarao View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 254 views 102 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Juliana Salum de Oliveira Molinari, Fabiana Schuelter-Trevisol, Luciana de Avila Quevedo, et al. High burden of grief and mental health symptoms following perinatal loss: a cross-sectional study in a Brazilian sample. Authorea . 31 October 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176189053.34228909/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . Format Please select one from the list RIS (ProCite, Reference Manager) EndNote BibTex Medlars RefWorks Direct import Tips for downloading citations document.getElementById('citMgrHelpLink').addEventListener('click', function() { popupHelp(this.href); return false; }); $(".js__slcInclude").on("change", function(e){ if ($(this).val() == 'refworks') $('#direct').prop("checked", false); $('#direct').prop("disabled", ($(this).val() == 'refworks')); }); View Options View options PDF View PDF Figures Tables Media Share Share Share article link Copy Link Copied! Copying failed. 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