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Prevalence and determinants of antenatal common mental disorders among women in India: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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Abstract

To review the available evidence about the prevalence and determinants of antenatal common mental disorders (antenatal CMDs) among women in India. We searched Ovid Medline, Embase and Psyinfo systematically from date of inception to Oct. 31, 2019 for publications in English language on the prevalence of antenatal CMDs and their determinants among women in India. All study designs were included. Quality was assessed with Standard Quality Assessment Criteria for Evaluating Primary Research Papers. We performed a meta-analysis using a random effects model. Twenty-seven studies involving 7780 women were analysed. There was a high degree of heterogeneity ((I2 = 97.53%). Publication bias [Egger bias = 0.65 (95% CI: 0.36; .94)] was evident. The overall pooled estimate of the prevalence of antenatal CMDs was 21.87% (95% CI: 17.46; 26.29). Significant risk factors reported in the 18 studies which examined them were negative reaction of husband or in-laws to the dowry, difficult relationship with husband/in-laws, lack of support or experiencing violence perpetrated by an intimate partner and preference for or feeling pressured to have a male child. Protective factors were having more education and being employed, having a supportive husband and opportunities for recreation during pregnancy. Antenatal CMDs are highly prevalent among women in India. There is an urgent need for locally developed policies and programmes for mental health promotion during pregnancy, preventive and early intervention for antenatal CMDs among women to be integrated into maternity care in India.

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Funding

No funding was received for this study. TT is supported by an Early Career Fellowship from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council. JF is supported by a Professorial Fellowship from Finkel Family Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Rd, 3004, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Harish Kalra, Thach Duc Tran & Jane Fisher

  2. Ballarat Rural Clinical School, University of Notre Dame Australia, 01 Drummond St Nth, 3350, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

    Harish Kalra

  3. Raphael Services, Ballarat, St John of God Health Care Social Outreach, 105 Webster St, 3350, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

    Harish Kalra

  4. Ballarat Health Services-Mental Health Services, Sturt St, 3350, Ballarat Central, VIC, Australia

    Harish Kalra

  5. The Ian Potter Library, The Alfred Hospital, 55 Commercial Rd, 3004, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Lorena Romero

  6. Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Hosur Road, Bengaluru, 560029, Karnataka, India

    Prabha Chandra

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Kalra, H., Tran, T.D., Romero, L. et al. Prevalence and determinants of antenatal common mental disorders among women in India: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Womens Ment Health 24, 29–53 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-020-01024-0

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