Depression, Anxiety, and Quality of Life of Afghan Women Under the Taliban Government

Neyazi, Ahmad; Padhi, Bijaya Kumar; Mohammadi, Ab. Qadim; Ahmadi, Maryam; Erfan, Adiba; Bashiri, Bahara; Neyazi, Mehrab; Ishaqzada, Marjina; Noormohammadi, Morteza; Saokaew, Surasak; Griffiths, Mark D.

doi:10.2139/ssrn.4293878

Cited by 6 publications

(15 citation statements)

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“…Moreover, in the present study, the presence of depressive symptoms was signi cantly associated with educational attainment, with illiterate participants reporting a higher prevalence (83.2%) compared to those with a university education (58.6%). This is in line with ndings of previous study in Afghanistan that reported a signi cant association between educational level and presence of depression symptoms [23]. This nding also aligns with a European study that reported higher levels of education being associated with lower odds of depression [33].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…In the present study, approximately one-fth of the participants (27.9%) indicated a mental state free of any depression symptoms, with females exhibiting a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms (77.6%) than males (65.5%). Consistent with previous research, gender emerged as a signi cant factor in uencing mental health status, with females manifesting elevated levels of mental health disorders compared to males [23,28]. The ndings indicated that 64.5% of those reporting depression symptoms also reported anxiety symptoms.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

“…The Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan has brought about signi cant political, social, and economic changes that appear to have had a profound impact on the well-being of the Afghan population [25,26]. Several studies have reported severe anxiety, depression and stress among the Afghan people but these have been localized studies and/or included a speci c proportion of the Afghan society [22,23,27]. The present national survey was carried out to examine the mental health issues faced by Afghan people and determine the socio-demographic factors associated stress, anxiety, and depression.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The closure of numerous schools and daycare facilities has compelled women to shoulder additional responsibilities, including the care of children and/or elderly family members, often concurrently managing remote work obligations [21]. This heightened workload has the potential to engender feelings of fatigue, frustration, and burnout, collectively posing a considerable threat to mental health [23].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The target sample size was determined using the formula N = Zα2P(1 − P)/d2, with α = 0.05 and Zα = 1.96, and a margin of error (d) of 5% which means the minimum sample size for each cluster (province) was 385. The proportion of women experiencing depression and anxiety was estimated at 80% based on existing Afghan literature [23]. No recent prevalence estimates exist for males.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Health survey on anxiety, depression, and stress in Afghanistan: A large-scale cross-sectional survey study

Neyazi,

Mohammadi,

Razaqi

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Background: The present cross-sectional survey study examined the mental health of Afghans living under the Taliban government. It examined the underlying factors associated with depression, anxiety, and stress. Methods: Between June 5, 2023 and February 12, 2024, a cross-sectional study was conducted among the Afghan population in three key regions of Afghanistan. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire. Logistic regression models were employed to explore the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and depression, anxiety, and stress among 2,698 participants. Results: The prevalence of (i) depression was 72.05%, (ii) anxiety was 71.94%, and (iii) stress was 66.49%. Multiple regression analysis indicated that gender (being female), economic status (being poor), residency (living in rural areas), education level (being illiterate), being a cigarette smoker, and having experienced a traumatic event during the past month were significantly associated with depression, anxiety and stress. Conclusion: The mental health crisis in Afghanistan is a complex and urgent issue that requires a comprehensive and compassionate response. The findings of the present study show very high levels of anxiety, depression, and stress, most likely reflecting the profound impact of recent political, social, and economic changes. Notably, a significant majority of participants, particularly females and individuals above 35 years of age, reported severe to extremely severe mental health symptoms.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Health survey on anxiety, depression, and stress in Afghanistan: A large-scale cross-sectional survey study

Neyazi,

Mohammadi,

Razaqi

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Antenatal depression among pregnant mothers in Afghanistan: A cross-sectional study

Sarem,

Neyazi,

Mohammadi

et al. 2024

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth

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Background Approximately one in five pregnant women experience antenatal depression globally. The purpose of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of antenatal depression and explore its relationship between various demographic variables, recent sexual engagement, and recent adverse life events among pregnant Afghan women. Methods A cross-sectional survey study was carried out between January, 2023 and April 2023 among 460 women aged 15–45 years who were recruited using convenience sampling from Herat province (Afghanistan). Logistic regression models were utilized to explore the relationship between antenatal depression and socio-demographic characteristics among the participants. Results The prevalence of antenatal depression symptoms was 78.5%. Multiple regression analysis indicated that antenatal depression was significantly associated with (i) being aged 30–45 years (AOR: 4.216, 95% CI: 1.868–9.515, p = .001), (ii) being of low economic status (AOR:2.102, 95% CI: 1.051–4.202, p = .036), (iii) not being employed (AOR: 2.445, 95% CI:1.189–5.025, p = .015), (iv) not having had sex during the past seven days (AOR: 2.335, 95% CI: 1.427–3.822, p = .001), and (v) not experiencing a traumatic event during the past month (AOR:0.263, 95% CI: 0.139–0.495, p < .001). Conclusion The present study provides insight into the factors associated with the high prevalence of antenatal depression among pregnant Afghan women (e.g., demographic variables, recent adverse life events, and recent sexual engagement). It highlights the urgency of addressing antenatal depression in Afghanistan and provides a foundation for future research and interventions aimed at improving the mental health and well-being of pregnant women in the Afghan context.

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Systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence and associated factors of depression among hypertensive patients in Ethiopia

Tassew,

Nigate,

Assefa

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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Background Identifying individuals at increased risk for depression allows for earlier intervention and treatment, ultimately leading to better outcomes and potentially preventing severe symptoms. However, to date, no systematic reviews or meta-analyses have estimated the prevalence of depression among hypertensive patients. Thus, this review was initiated to determine the prevalence and factors associated with depression among patients with hypertension in Ethiopia. Methods Multiple databases, such as PubMed, African Journals Online, the Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar, were used to ensure wider coverage of relevant studies. The data extracted from Microsoft Excel were imported into STATA version 11 (Stata Corp LLC, TX, USA) for further analysis. The pooled prevalence of depression was estimated using a random effects model. To evaluate statistical heterogeneity, the Cochrane Q test and I2 statistic were used. Results The random effect model indicated that the pooled prevalence of depression in 12 studies conducted in Ethiopia was 32.43% (95% CI: 25.18, 39.67%). Being female (POR = 2.41; 95% CI: 1.89, 3.07, I2 = 17.7%, P = 0.302), having comorbid illnesses (POR = 3.80; 95% CI: 2.09, 6.90, I2 = 81%, P = 0.005), having poor blood pressure control (POR = 3.58; 95% CI: 2.51, 5.12, I2 = 0.0%, P = 0.716), having a family history of depression (POR = 3.43; 95% CI: 1.98, 5.96, I2 = 62.6%, P = 0.069), being single (POR = 2.30; 95% CI: 1.35, 3.99, I2 = 48.0%, P = 0.146) and having poor social support (POR = 4.24; 95% CI: 1.29, 13.98, I2 = 95.8%, P<0.001) were positively associated with depression among hypertensive patients. Conclusion Overall, the results of our review showed that depression affects a significant number of Ethiopians who have hypertension. Being female, being single, having comorbidities, having poor blood pressure control, having a family history of depression, and having poor social support were factors associated with depression among patients with hypertension. For those who are depressed, improving the psycho-behavioral treatment linkage with the psychiatric unit can result in improved clinical outcomes. Trial registration Prospero Registration number: CRD42024498447. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024498447.

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Depression, Anxiety, and Quality of Life of Afghan Women Under the Taliban Government

Cited by 6 publications

References 0 publications

Health survey on anxiety, depression, and stress in Afghanistan: A large-scale cross-sectional survey study

Health survey on anxiety, depression, and stress in Afghanistan: A large-scale cross-sectional survey study

Antenatal depression among pregnant mothers in Afghanistan: A cross-sectional study

Systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence and associated factors of depression among hypertensive patients in Ethiopia

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