Mental Health and Care of Pregnant Women in Primary Care: Integrative Review of the Literature

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the scientific production on health and mental health care for women during pregnancy in primary health care. Methods: This is an integrative literature review, using descriptors in three languages, covering the period from 2019 to 2023, across the SciELO, MEDLINE, LILACS, Index Psicologia – Periódico, and BDENF – Enfermagem databases. Eleven articles were selected, with a simple descriptive statistical analysis conducted to outline the quantitative profile, and Bardin’s Content Analysis applied for qualitative characterization of the literature and the delimitation of categories. Results: The studies show that the gestational experience is influenced by psychosocial determinants which, when disregarded by the multiprofessional team, compromise mental health and the development of a healthy maternity. Such neglect may hinder the course of pregnancy, the mother–infant bond, and adherence to prenatal care, especially in contexts marked by unfavorable socioeconomic conditions, lack of support networks, and situations of violence. Furthermore, the findings highlight the need for continuous qualification of care practices in primary health care, particularly regarding listening, welcoming, and multiprofessional integration in the follow-up of pregnant women, as well as the adoption of innovative care strategies, such as digital technologies and community-based actions, which bring services closer to pregnant women. Conclusion: Maternal mental health remains under-addressed in primary health care, highlighting a gap in psychological support, the predominance of the biomedical model, and neglect of the psychosocial determinants of pregnancy, reinforcing the urgency of interdisciplinary and humanized practices in maternal care.