Abdullah Muhammad Ahmed, Shaikh Babar Tasneem, Sattar Nargis Yousuf, Sarwar Balaj, Ahmed Ameer Sikander, Fatima Syeda Sara
Health Services Academy, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Professor of Public Health, Health Services Academy, Islamabad, Pakistan.
PLOS Glob Public Health. 2024 Jul 23;4(7):e0003463. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0003463. eCollection 2024.
Depression among married women of reproductive age is on the rise in Pakistan, owing to post-COVID-19 phase, super-inflation, increasing poverty, deteriorating law and order situation and perpetuating the uncertain political situation in the country. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with depression among married women of reproductive age in Pakistan, using a mixed methods approach. The quantitative phase utilized the Urdu version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to assess depression among 340 married women. Twelve women with higher scores on the PHQ-9 were selected for in-depth interviews in the qualitative phase. The quantitative analysis revealed a higher prevalence of depression among women with poor socioeconomic status, lower educational levels, larger family sizes, and recent deaths in the family. In the qualitative phase, the main themes identified were the impact of social conditions, such as societal expectations and gender roles, the influence of medical conditions on mental health, financial difficulties, the stress associated with caring for a larger number of children, and the emotional burden of recent deaths in the family. This study highlights the importance of addressing depression among married women of reproductive age in Pakistan. It is crucial to focus on early diagnosis and prompt treatment to mitigate the adverse effects of depression on the affected individuals and their families. Targeted interventions should consider the social determinants of depression, including improving socioeconomic conditions through safety nets, providing mental health support at the primary health care level, and addressing the specific health issues and needs of women in the reproductive age group. A multi-pronged approach and health system's thinking can reduce the burden of depression among women, ultimately enhancing their overall well-being, productivity and quality of life.
由于新冠疫情后阶段、超级通货膨胀、贫困加剧、治安状况恶化以及该国政治局势持续不确定，巴基斯坦育龄已婚妇女的抑郁症患病率呈上升趋势。本研究旨在采用混合方法，调查巴基斯坦育龄已婚妇女抑郁症的相关因素。定量阶段使用乌尔都语版患者健康问卷-9（PHQ-9）对340名已婚妇女的抑郁症进行评估。定性阶段选取了12名PHQ-9得分较高的妇女进行深入访谈。定量分析显示，社会经济地位差、教育水平低、家庭规模大以及近期家中有人死亡的妇女中，抑郁症患病率较高。在定性阶段，确定的主要主题包括社会状况的影响，如社会期望和性别角色、身体状况对心理健康的影响、经济困难、照顾多个孩子带来的压力以及近期家中有人死亡带来的情感负担。本研究强调了解决巴基斯坦育龄已婚妇女抑郁症问题的重要性。关键是要注重早期诊断和及时治疗，以减轻抑郁症对受影响个人及其家庭的不利影响。有针对性的干预措施应考虑抑郁症的社会决定因素，包括通过安全网改善社会经济状况、在初级卫生保健层面提供心理健康支持，以及解决育龄妇女群体的具体健康问题和需求。多管齐下的方法和卫生系统思维可以减轻妇女的抑郁症负担，最终提高她们的整体幸福感、生产力和生活质量。
