The determinants of women's depression and policy recommendations in developing countries

Abstract

Among all types of psychiatric disorder, depression is the most prevalent one which affect nearly one third of the contemporary adult population. Depression also ranks top with regard to women’s health and is now contributing heavily to the global disease burden. WHO makes clear that the overall rates of women's depression confirmed across all centers are almost 2 times higher than that of men. This review was performed with aim to examine the risk factors of female depression in developing countries. It also focuses on the strategies and policy recommendations for policy makers. In summary, results included poverty, educational level, unemployment, being unmarried, marital crisis, victims of violence, undesired pregnancies, lack of social support, poor relationships with parents and in-laws, history of depression, were associated with perinatal depression. Besides, financial difficulties, not living with parents, lack social support, expose to violence, bad school behavior and maternal depression were associated with female adolescent depression.