High Depression Rates in Indian Post-Menopausal Women Prompt Urgent Mental Health Call
24 Jul 2024 • One out of every five post-menopausal women aged 50 and above in India is affected by clinical depression according to a study by researchers from the Indian Institute of Public Health-Delhi, Public Health Foundation of India, and Lady Hardinge Medical College.
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The study, utilizing data from the Longitudinal Aging Study in India Wave 1, reveals that 21.76% of women aged 50 and older experience clinical depression, surpassing the rate of 17.60% among younger women.
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Key predictors of depression among older women include multiple chronic health conditions, functional disabilities in personal care, single marital status, and residing in rural areas. This issue is further compounded by decreasing fertility rates, smaller family sizes, and children residing apart from their parents. Conversely, higher education is associated with a lower likelihood of depression.
Researchers stress the urgency for policy initiatives focusing on community screening and bolstering mental health services in primary care to better support older women facing these challenges.
Source:Nature India| Read full story