Consequências da Gestação não Planejada no Brasil

Abstract

Introduction: Unplanned pregnancy (UP) is understood as a gestation that occurs without the intention to conceive. It accounts for 55.4% of pregnancies in Brazil, according to cross-sectional studies conducted in 2020. UP represents a persistent challenge within the context of Brazilian public health, with significant implications for the physical, mental, and social well-being of both the pregnant woman and the child. Objective: To identify the main biopsychosocial consequences of UP in Brazil. Method: An integrative literature review was conducted. Articles published between 2014 and 2024 were selected from the PubMed, SciELO, and LILACS databases, using descriptors in Portuguese and English: Unplanned Pregnancy, Unintended Pregnancy, Consequences, and Implications. Full-text scientific articles that did not address the Brazilian public health context, were duplicates, or only tangentially related to the topic were excluded. After applying the inclusion criteria, 14 Brazilian studies were analyzed. Results: UP is associated with a higher incidence of depressive symptoms, adjustment disorders, parental stress, inadequate prenatal care, early introduction of ultra-processed foods, impairments in the mother-child relationship, delays in neuropsychomotor development, and increased risk of abortion. Conclusion: UP compromises multiple aspects of maternal and child health. Strengthening public policies and implementing humanized care practices are essential to mitigate its effects.

Keywords: Unplanned Pregnancy. Public Health. Prenatal Care. Maternal Health. Brazil