BACKGROUND:
Suicide is the leading cause of maternal mortality, accounting for 28.6% of maternal deaths. In Japan, the perinatal suicide rate peaked in 2022 at 8.4 per 100,000 births, higher than in many countries. However, factors increasing suicidal ideation risk in postpartum Japanese women are not well understood.

OBJECTIVES:
This study aimed to identify risk factors for suicidal ideation among postpartum women in Japan.

METHODS:
Between November 2024 and March 2025, an anonymous survey was conducted among 1,208 mothers who were ≤1 year postpartum and underwent postpartum checkups at municipalities in Japan. Questionnaire items were based on preliminary qualitative surveys and literature, reviewed by maternal and child health experts, and finalized after quantitative surveys. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed using data provided by respondents.

RESULTS:
The survey was completed by 230 respondents. Six factors related to suicidal ideation risk among postpartum women were identified: “self-blame regarding childcare,” “unrelieved physical and mental stress,” “decreased self-esteem due to childbirth and childcare,” “loneliness felt in the relationship with the partner,” “isolation due to severed connections with others,” and “searching for a way to escape the current situation.” The overall Cronbach’s α was 0.92, with factor-specific Cronbach’s α of 0.71 – 0.89. Model fit indices were: χ2 = 674.01, df = 309, P < 0.001, GFI = 0.83, AGFI = 0.79, and RMSEA = 0.07.

CONCLUSIONS:
This study identified six risk factors for suicidal ideation in postpartum women and demonstrated a reliable model. The results aligned with theoretical predictions and were logically sound and reasonable. Future studies should further examine these factors and develop screening tools.

KEY MESSAGE:
The results of the exploratory factor analysis suggested risk factors for suicidal ideation in postpartum women. Poster session 2 (Group A)