title: [Mentally ill women's subjective views on social context of desire for children. A qualitative approach].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The desire for children among mentally ill women may be influenced by the perception of reproductive risks for the woman herself as well as for the potential child. Coping with these challenges is not only impacted by individual but also by social factors. Thus, the study aims at subjective views on various social aspects pertaining to the desire for children among this group including: (a) general context (b) partnership (c) family background (d) professionals and (e) genetic aspects in regard to desire for children.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2007, n = 15 narrative-biographical interviews with childless women with mental illnesses aged 26-42 years were analysed using a reconstructive approach.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participants focused on the development of stable social conditions and stable partnership as important prerequisites for desire for children. However, a mental illness might easily threaten the development of such stable conditions. It was emphasized that a partnership with a mentally ill partner can be both an important source of support as well as an additional burden due to the "doubled risk". Furthermore, it was reported that during contacts with mental health service providers, the desire for children is mostly restricted to the issue of adequate birth control. Some participants felt overburdened by bringing up this issue vis-à-vis professionals while some were afraid that their desire for children may become medicalised. Most participants were sceptical towards the use of (hypothetical) genetic techniques aiming at the prediction of a mental illness in the planned/unborn child.
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie II, Bezirkskrankenhaus Günzburg. silvia.krumm@bkh-guenzburgde
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krumm
authors.forename: Reinhold
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kilian
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003267:Contraception / Q000523:psychology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D005820:Genetic Testing; D005858:Germany; D006208:Halfway Houses; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D017533:Marital Status; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D009042:Motivation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012803:Sick Role; D012917:Social Adjustment; D057545:Social Stigma; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors