Anxiety and Suicidal Ideation in the Perinatal Period in Women in South America: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Background/Objectives: Anxiety and suicidal ideation are major mental health concerns during the perinatal period, impacting both mothers and newborns. While studies from South America address this issue, no prior systematic reviews have synthesized the findings. This review and meta-analysis aimed to explore the relationship between anxiety and suicidal ideation in perinatal women in South American countries. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were registered in PROSPERO (CRD42025631849). Database searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, SciELO, and LILACS, including studies published up to December 2024, with no restrictions on year of publication. Study quality was evaluated using Joanna Briggs Institute tools. A random-effects model was used for the meta-analysis, following PRISMA guidelines. Results: Suicidal ideation was linked to 23 variables, such as age, race, depression, mother-infant bonding, violence, marital status, drug use, planned pregnancy, anxiety, low birth weight, and preterm birth. Anxiety was associated with 10 variables, including age, race, marital status, hyperglycemia, disabilities, eating habits, and mother-child relationship. The meta-analysis revealed a strong, significant association between suicidal ideation and violence, with affected women being 2.84 times more likely to report ideation. Conclusions: Violence and marital status emerged as key factors, reinforcing the need for screening and maternal mental health policies.