Mental health status of women in Lamjung and Dhanusha of Nepal

Abstract

Variation in psychosocial problems related to geographical situation, socio cultural conditions, religions, economic status, political situation and biologicalmake-up the status of women’s mental health has been questioned in Nepal. The purpose of the present study was to document and analyze mental health status of women. Along with this the influence of demographic variables on women’s mental health, association between psychological and sociocultural factors in relation to women’s mental health conditionwas also analyzed. An explorative and descriptive approach was applied to women living in plain region (Dhanusha) and Hilly (Lamjung). Both quantitative and qualitative method was applied with 460 adult women of age ranging from 19 to 60 years. Mental Health Inventory, PGI-Social Support Questionnaire, and WHO Quality of Life-Brief were applied to 400 women representing two regions. Further, 60women were interviewed with KII, FGD methods to collect qualitative information in relation to dimensions of mental health. Descriptive as well as inferential statistics were used to analyze the quantitative data and an inductive method was to analyze the qualitative data. The triangulation process was utilized to reconcile the quantitative and qualitative result to bring out the major findings. The overall result showed that the Mental Health Status (MHS) of women was very low. The MHS was found 78% indicating very low mental health. Prevalence of mental health condition differed in two regions (Lamjung and Dhanusha). The status of mental health was found higher in Hill (Lamjung) than Tarai (Dhanusha) area with score of 145.29 in Hilly area and 135.21in the Tarai area. Significant difference was also found in MHS and socio economic status, caste and ethnicity and religion. mental heath status was found higher in upper and medium socio-economic class than lower group. A significant difference was also found in caste and ethnicity, Madhesi, Janjatiand Brahman/Chhetri castes no almost any difference between Dalit and Madhesi caste, and Janjatigroup and Brahmin and Chhetri castes. Social support and quality of life were significantly and positively correlated with mental health score. The qualitative findings explore the various sociocultural environments shaping the cognition and behavior regarding the mental health experience of women. The result, aholisticframework, provides an important implication for women’s mental health area in relation to socio-demographic, sociocultural and psychological factors.

Keywords: Mental Health, Psychosocial, Social support, Quality of Life, Women, Culture