Neglected Minds in Neglected Spaces: Probable Common Mental Disorders and their Determinants among Married Women in Deprived Urban Communities of Uttarakhand, India: A Mixed-Methods Study.

BACKGROUND

Women residing in urban slums are disproportionately affected by common mental disorders (CMDs), often due to socioeconomic adversity and limited access to healthcare. In India, mental health among married women in deprived urban settings remains underexplored.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the prevalence of probable CMDs and explore psychosocial determinants influencing mental health among married women residing in the urban slums of Uttarakhand.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

A mixed-methods study was conducted from January to March 2022 among married women aged 18-45 years living in the slums of Dehradun and Haridwar districts. Quantitative data were collected using the WHO self-reporting questionnaire (SRQ-20) through a cross-sectional survey (n = 250), while qualitative insights were obtained from 15 in-depth interviews. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and logistic regression analyses were performed using SPSS v25. Thematic analysis was used for qualitative data.

RESULTS

The prevalence of probable CMD was 22%. Somatic symptoms such as poor sleep, being tired all the time, poor digestion, and stomach discomfort were significantly associated with CMD (P < 0.005). Older age (>35 years) and low monthly household income (<₹ 10,000) were significant predictors of probable CMD. Qualitative findings highlighted poor living conditions, financial insecurity, and intimate partner violence as major stressors. Emotional support from family and religious coping emerged as key stress mitigators.

CONCLUSION

Psychosocial distress is prevalent among married slum-dwelling women and is shaped by age, poverty, and gender-based violence. Integration of mental health services into primary care and targeted community interventions is crucial to address CMDs in this vulnerable group.