Original Research Article
Year: 2023 | Month: March | Volume: 13 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 297-305
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20230333
The Interface Between Reproductive Health and Reported Mental Health Issues: DASS-42
Paramita Debnath1, Chander Shekhar2
1,2Department of Fertility Studies, International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai
Corresponding Author: Paramita Debnath
ABSTRACT
The paper is on the interface between reproductive health and reported mental health issues of women in Delhi, India. Here Reproductive health has been divided into three categories: reproductive, gynaecologic, and contraceptive morbidities. As these illnesses account for a significant component of the disease burden in women. Therefore, they might lead to mental health issue among them. The research objectives of this study are to explore relationship between the two issues exiting in women.
Data on mental health status was collected using the Hindi version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-42), while demographic household and Parental & spousal characteristics and details related to reproductive health were collected via a questionnaire devised for the study.
Women's age and reporting of a major illness were associated with reproductive and mental health issues. Also, women with 2 or more menstrual complication were more likely to have stress, for 2 or more gynaecological complication women were found to have symptoms of anxiety and women who had 2 or more delivery complications had major symptoms of depression.
From the study we can conclude that the stress of specific life events such as miscarriage, abortion, and menopause affect female mental health from a biological and psychosocial standpoint with the potential for secondary mood and anxiety disorders.
Key words: Reproductive issues, mental health, menstrual, gynaecological and delivery complications.