Common mental disorder and its socio-demographic correlates among married women residing in slum areas of Bhubaneswar, India

ABSTRACT

The mental health of women residing in slum areas is a neglected and important public health concern. The present cross-sectional study was undertaken during 2012–2013 to assess frequently occurring mental disorders and associated factors among married women 15–45 years of age, residing in slum areas of Bhubaneswar, India. A multistage, cluster, random sampling design was applied to select the study areas. The presence of a mental disorder was determined using a validated, self-reported questionnaire, developed by the World Health Organization. Using a predesigned, pretested schedule, relevant data were collected from 362 eligible, willing women respondents. Eighty women (22.1%) had a mental disorder, 56 (70.0%) of whom never consulted a health-care provider. Results of multiple logistic regression indicated that presence of a mental disorder was positively associated with not being satisfied with managing household financial affairs, not having time to attend social obligations, attending religious services less than four times per month, addiction of a family member to alcohol or drugs, and misunderstandings or quarrels in the family. Policy makers should be encouraged to incorporate such determinants in schemes or programs intended to promote the mental health of married slum women.

KEYWORDS:

• Married
• mental disorder
• religious service
• slum
• social obligation
• women

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to all those women who participated in our study and generously shared their time and cooperated throughout the study.