Prevalence of and factors associated with anxiety and depression among women in a lower middle class semi-urban community of Karachi, Pakistan.
OBJECTIVE
To study the prevalence of, and factors associated with anxiety and depression among women.


METHODS
A cross sectional survey.


METHODS
A lower middle class semi-urban community of Karachi, Pakistan.


METHODS
A total of 1218 women between the ages of 18-50 years.


METHODS
Systematically every third household was identified from which a woman was randomly selected. The Aga Khan University Anxiety and Depression Scale and a socio-demographic questionnaire were administered verbally by trained interviewers for assessing the prevalence of, and associated factors for anxiety and depression.


RESULTS
A prevalence of 30% was found. Increasing age, lack of education and verbal abuse were the associated factors found to have an independent relationship.


CONCLUSIONS
Providing education and reducing domestic abuse could lead to decrease in the prevalence of anxiety and depression in women.
Ali
B S
BS
Department of Community Health Sciences, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
Rahbar
M H
MH
Naeem
S
S
Tareen
A L
AL
Gul
A
A
Samad
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012923:Social Class; D013383:Suburban Population