title: Social environment and depression among pregnant women in rural areas of Sind, Pakistan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the relative power of social relations and social conditions in predicting depression using (CES-D scale) among rural pregnant women belonging to Sind, Pakistan.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted from January 2004 tp December 2004. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were employed. During quantitative phase a total of 375 rural pregnant women were inquired about social conditions, social relations and pregnancy related concerns through a questionnaire based form. Variables were given scores when it applied to a situation of a pregnant woman. Concurrently, in a blind set-up, translated and validated Depression Scale (CES-D) was administered. In multivariate linear regression analysis, relation between scores of social relations and social condition variables with scores of CES-D scale were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of depression among rural pregnant women is high (62%).Social conditions as compared to social relations are more important determinants for depression among rural pregnant women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a high prevalence of depression in rural areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Aysha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zahidie
authors.forename: Ambreen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kazi
authors.forename: Zafar
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fatmi
authors.forename: Muhammad Tufail
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Bhatti
authors.forename: Sayeda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dureshahwar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D055815:Young Adult