One in Four Pregnant Women in Quelimane Did Not Welcome the News of Their Pregnancy, Study Reveals

Foto do arquivo: palestras para mulheres em sessões de Consulta Pré-natal, ministradas pela consentidora Eugência Bilana

A study conducted by researchers from the Manhiça Health Research Centre (CISM) in Quelimane District, Zambézia Province, found that nearly one in four pregnant women (24.5%) did not feel happy when they learned they were pregnant. The research, carried out in collaboration with national and international partners, was published in the scientific journal BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. It is the first study conducted in Mozambique to examine women's perceptions of happiness regarding their current pregnancy, identifying the main reasons and factors associated with these feelings.

Led by CISM demographer Ariel Nhacolo, the study analysed data from 1,546 pregnant women recruited through the Pregnancy Surveillance System (PregSurv), implemented by CISM between 2023 and 2024 as part of the Quelimane Health and Demographic Surveillance Platform. Participants were interviewed during pregnancy about how they felt when they found out they were pregnant, their partners' reactions, and the family and reproductive context in which the pregnancy occurred. The findings showed that dissatisfaction with pregnancy was particularly high among adolescents (42.2%), among women whose partners were unhappy about the pregnancy (74.5%), and among those who did not communicate with their partners about reproductive issues (48.9%).

The main reasons reported by women for not feeling happy about their pregnancy included the pregnancy being unplanned (30.2%), an unwanted pregnancy (26.5%), and concerns about the consequences the pregnancy could have on their lives (17.7%). Other reasons included the short interval between pregnancies and the belief that they did not wish to have more children. Conversely, among women who reported being happy about their pregnancy, the most common reasons were the desire to have a child (34.1%), perceiving the pregnancy as a blessing or a pleasant surprise (28.5%), wanting to have more children (24.7%), and the wish to satisfy their partner or family (5.5%).

Partners' Reactions Also Influence the Pregnancy Experience

Ariel Nhacolo, primeiro autor do artigo.

According to the study's first author, participants were also asked about the reasons behind both their own and their partners' happiness or dissatisfaction with the pregnancy. "Around 16.9% of women reported that their partners were not happy about the pregnancy. Among these partners, the main reasons were that the pregnancy was unwanted (30.2%), unplanned (29.0%), or occurred after a short interval between pregnancies (3.4%)," he explained. Among partners who welcomed the pregnancy, 43.0% wanted to have a child, 21.8% wished to have more children, and 12.0% were expecting their first child.

Although partner acceptance of the pregnancy was high, reaching 97.3%, cases of rejection were also reported. Among partners who rejected the pregnancy, 39.0% did not want to take responsibility, while 34.2% claimed they were not the child's father. Approximately 26.2% of women whose pregnancies were rejected by their partners reported that they did not know why they had been abandoned during pregnancy.

According to the researcher, these findings reinforce the need to develop interventions targeting not only women but also their partners. The study advocates for a couple-centred approach, in line with current evidence, recognising that decisions and experiences related to pregnancy are shaped by communication, emotional support, and the involvement of both partners.

Adolescents Among the Most Vulnerable Groups

As adolescentes apresentaram os níveis mais elevados de insatisfação.

The study also identified important differences across age groups. Adolescents showed the highest levels of dissatisfaction with pregnancy, a greater frequency of unintended pregnancies, lower knowledge of modern contraceptive methods, and less communication with their partners about family planning.

The authors emphasise that understanding how women emotionally experience the moment they learn they are pregnant is an important step towards strengthening maternal and child health programmes. The study recommends that health services promote greater partner involvement in antenatal care visits and counselling activities, encourage dialogue between couples on family planning, and pay special attention to the most vulnerable groups, including adolescents and women experiencing greater social vulnerability.

In addition to researchers from CISM, the study, entitled "Pregnant women's perceived unhappiness with current pregnancy: an analysis of prevalence, reasons, and associated factors in Quelimane district, Mozambique," involved researchers from ISGlobal, the National Institute of Health of Mozambique (INS), the Centre of African Studies at Eduardo Mondlane University, the University of Barcelona, the University of Washington, and other partner institutions.

Reference

Nhacolo A, Amosse F, Amaro H, Armando T, Massanduzi D, Adolfo N, Xerinda E, Kincardett M, Varo R, Garcia-Otero L, Bassat Q, Mandomando I, Augusto O, Arnaldo C, Alonso PL. Pregnant women's perceived unhappiness with current pregnancy: an analysis of prevalence, reasons, and associated factors in Quelimane district, Mozambique. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2026 Jul 21. doi: 10.1186/s12884-026-09682-1. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42477568.