Knowledge and Behaviors in Reproductive Health Among Mexican Women With Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases: Cross-sectional Study.

Background/objective: Reproductive health is a critical issue for women with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs), yet significant gaps in knowledge and practices persist. While prior studies have largely focused on populations in high-income countries or specialized clinics, there is limited evidence addressing the reproductive health behaviors and challenges in middle-income settings, where disparities in health care access and counseling are pronounced. This study aims to assess reproductive health knowledge, contraceptive use, and pregnancy planning among Mexican women with ARDs, identifying specific areas for improvement in education and counseling to bridge these gaps.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 725 women aged 18 to 50 years diagnosed with ARDs, recruited from 5 hospitals in Mexico between August 2023 and February 2024. Participants completed the Rheum Reproductive Behavior questionnaire, which assessed reproductive health knowledge, contraceptive use, and family planning behaviors. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics and logistic regression to identify factors associated with reproductive health practices.

Results: Among the 725 participants, 47.29% reported inconsistent contraceptive use, and 47.7% of pregnancies were unplanned. Despite known risks associated with active disease during pregnancy, 36% of participants reported not receiving information on contraception, and 34% did not receive adequate preconception counseling. A large proportion of women lacked sufficient knowledge regarding the impact of their disease on reproductive health, with only 38% feeling well-informed about pregnancy-related risks.

Conclusions: This study identified critical deficiencies in reproductive health knowledge, limited pregnancy planning among Mexican women with ARDs, and that half of the participants reported inconsistent contraceptive use, underscoring a significant gap in counseling and guidance. The findings emphasize the need for targeted educational programs and standardized counseling protocols to improve global reproductive health guidance provided by health care professionals.