Does the Living Environment Influence Maternal Depression? Insights from a Cross-Sectional Study among Mothers of Under-Five Children in India
1
Environmental Health and Epidemiology, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Environmental Health (ICMR-NIREH), Bhopal, India
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Maternal depression is a growing public health concern in low- and middle-income countries, particularly among mothers living in socioeconomically underprivileged urban settings 1. Depression in mothers can adversely affect childcare practices and overall family health 2, 3. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of depression and explore its association with sociodemographic, housing, and child-health factors among mothers of under-five children in Bhopal, India.
METHODS:
A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 322 non-employed mothers residing in slum and Basic Services for Urban Poor (BSUP) areas. Sociodemographic and environmental data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Maternal depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Logistic regression models were used to examine associations between depression and potential determinants including maternal education, number of children, BPL status, housing condition (cracks, dampness, mould), and child morbidity.
RESULTS:
The overall prevalence of depressive symptoms was 18.6% (n = 60). In both bivariable and multivariable analyses, no significant association was observed between maternal depression and any of the examined variables, including child morbidity, socioeconomic indicators, or housing characteristics (p > 0.05 for all).
CONCLUSIONS:
Although nearly one in five mothers experienced depressive symptoms, no specific sociodemographic or environmental factors were identified. Broader psychosocial influences may play a larger role in maternal depression among the urban poor.
Maternal depression is a growing public health concern in low- and middle-income countries, particularly among mothers living in socioeconomically underprivileged urban settings 1. Depression in mothers can adversely affect childcare practices and overall family health 2, 3. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of depression and explore its association with sociodemographic, housing, and child-health factors among mothers of under-five children in Bhopal, India.
METHODS:
A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 322 non-employed mothers residing in slum and Basic Services for Urban Poor (BSUP) areas. Sociodemographic and environmental data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Maternal depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Logistic regression models were used to examine associations between depression and potential determinants including maternal education, number of children, BPL status, housing condition (cracks, dampness, mould), and child morbidity.
RESULTS:
The overall prevalence of depressive symptoms was 18.6% (n = 60). In both bivariable and multivariable analyses, no significant association was observed between maternal depression and any of the examined variables, including child morbidity, socioeconomic indicators, or housing characteristics (p > 0.05 for all).
CONCLUSIONS:
Although nearly one in five mothers experienced depressive symptoms, no specific sociodemographic or environmental factors were identified. Broader psychosocial influences may play a larger role in maternal depression among the urban poor.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
