The Relationship Between Mother–Child Bonding Impairment and Suicidal Ideation in São Paulo, Brazil

Objectives To evaluate the association between mother–child bonding at 6–9 months after birth and suicidal ideation Methods A cross-sectional study embedded in a clinical trial with 358 low-income postpartum women who had antenatal depression in São Paulo, Brazil. The Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 were used Results The percentage of the main outcome, suicidal ideation (SI) was 10.3%. Using logistic regression models, bonding impairment (BI) was associated with SI even after controlling for postpartum depression and other covariates. Conclusions for Practice SI affects 10% of vulnerable postpartum women. BI is independently associated with SI. Treating BI may prevent SI