Navigation
Depression among women of reproductive age in rural Bangladesh is linked to food security, diets and nutrition
In this study by Sparling et al. (2020), the authors aimed to quantitatively evaluate the links between indicators of food availability, nutrition, and a positive depression screening in a population of Bangladeshi rural women of reproductive age. Using cross-sectional data on 2,599 women from the Food and Agricultural Approaches to Reducing Malnutrition (FAARM), the authors investigated the links between depression in non-peripartum (NPW) and peripartum women (PW) in the context of food security. The results revealed that out of the selected study participants, 20% had a positive screening for major depressive disorder, 40% were either pregnant or up to 1 year postpartum, while 60% were not postpartum. Depression was explained via analysis revealing food and nutrition security to be the underlying reason. Food insecurity (HFIAS), poor household food consumption (FCS) and poor dietary diversity (< 5 groups) increased the likelihood of suffering from depression by more than or equal to two folds. On the other hand, a diet composed of dairy, eggs, fish, vitamin A, and vitamin C-rich foods was linked to a lower likelihood of suffering from depression. Finally, an association was discovered between a low BMI and depressive disorder (<18·5 kg/m2). In conclusion, the authors comment that depression among women was related to several aspects of food and nutrition availability, even after controlling for socio-economic factors. Additional research is necessary to understand the drivers behind food and nutrition security-related depression, to identify potential interventions and ways to improve the diets and alleviate depression in women living in low- and middle-income countries. [NPID: Depression, dietary diversity, food, maternal health, nutrition, peripartum depression]
Year: 2020
