Abstract
Family planning and parenthood are importantissues for women with severe and persistent mentalillness (SPMI). The role of adult mental healthclinicians with regard to these issues has been underinvestigated. Clinicians treating patients with SPMI at alarge community health center completed survey forms on419 women. Clinicians reported that a large fraction ofsexually active women were not thought to be using birth control. Despite this, many clinicianshad not discussed birth control with these patients.Clinicians had concerns about childcare in 72% of caseswhere the patient with SPMI was the primary custodian of a younger child; however, the majority ofthese families were not receiving child or familyservices. Further consideration of the role of the adultmental health clinician in addressing issues of family planning and parenting is required.
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Mclennan, J.D., Ganguli, R. Family Planning and Parenthood Needs of Women with Severe Mental Illness: Clinicians' Perspective. Community Ment Health J 35, 369–380 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018770109042
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018770109042