Knowledge and Awareness of Reproductive Rights Among Women With Schizophrenia and Bipolar Affective Disorder

BACKGROUND: Female psychiatric patients face challenges in reproductive health due to a lack of knowledge and awareness about reproductive rights and limited access to healthcare facilities. Our primary objectives were to explore the level of knowledge and awareness, independence, autonomy, and decision-making power concerning reproductive rights among women with schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder (BPAD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study employed a cross-sectional descriptive design and included 150 women with schizophrenia and BPAD using a purposive sampling technique in a tertiary care mental health setting in India and diagnosed according to ICD-10. The Clinical Global Impression (CGI, Improvement) and a predesigned questionnaire about fundamental rights, knowledge and awareness, liberty and freedom, and autonomy and decision-making of women with mental illness were used for data collection. RESULTS: The majority of 120 (80.0%) of the respondents, irrespective of schizophrenia and BPAD, opined that females should be provided with proper education and awareness to help them become emotionally and physical easy. A total of 120 (80%) feel that girls should be educated in maintaining the highest level of hygiene during periods. CONCLUSION: Women with schizophrenia and BPAD should be offered comprehensive counseling and awareness related to reproductive health, including accessing reproductive health services.