RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of, and factors associated with anxiety and depression among women. DESIGN: A cross sectional survey. SETTING: A lower middle class semi-urban community of Karachi, Pakistan. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1218 women between the ages of 18-50 years. METHODOLOGY: 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. CONCLUSION: Providing education and reducing domestic abuse could lead to decrease in the prevalence of anxiety and depression in women.
