Association of Depression with Socioeconomic Factors Among Pregnant Women in Peshawar Tertiary Hospitals
Association of Depression with Socioeconomic Factors Among Pregnant Women in Peshawar Tertiary Hospitals
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17097861Keywords:
Depression, Socioeconomic Factors, Pregnant Women, HospitalAbstract
Abstract: This study aims to examine the relationship between socioeconomic status and prenatal depression among expectant mothers attending tertiary hospitals in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted, involving 428 pregnant women recruited using convenience sampling. Data were collected through the PHQ-9 questionnaire to assess depression severity and the Poverty Score Card to measure socioeconomic status. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to analyze the data.
Results: The study found that 56.5% of participants experienced prenatal depression, with 43.5% having mild depression, and 23.6% reported severe depression. The low-income group (50.0%) had the highest rates of moderate to severe depression (56.1%). In comparison, the high-income group (12.1%) had the lowest rates of severe depression (15.4%) and the highest rate of minimal depression (69.2%). The Pearson Chi-Square test (χ² = 37.243, p = 0.000) revealed a statistically significant association between socioeconomic status and depression severity, with financial instability being a key risk factor.
Conclusion: The findings highlight the need for targeted mental health interventions and socioeconomic support for pregnant women, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds, to improve maternal health outcomes in resource-limited settings.
Keywords: Depression, Socioeconomic Factors, Pregnant Women and Hospital
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