Common Mental Disorders among Pregnant Indian Women: Prevalence, Risk Factors, Consequences, and Interventions

Pregnancy is a significant life event characterised by substantial biological, psychological, and social transformations. The prevalence of common mental disorders (CMDs), especially anxiety and depression, among pregnant women in India is becoming more and more acknowledged as a significant public health issue. Pregnancy is traditionally seen as a wonderful life event, yet many Indian women suffer from emotional and mental health issues when they are pregnant. Pregnant women in India still don’t get enough diagnosis and treatment for common mental disorders (CMDs), including depression, anxiety disorders, and stress-related ailments. This study offers an exhaustive examination of the prevalence, drivers, implications, screening methodologies, and treatments for prevalent mental illnesses among pregnant Indian women. Pregnant women in India are more likely to suffer from anxiety disorders (10-20%) and prenatal depression (15-25%), with the latter being more common among economically disadvantaged populations. Depressive disorders frequently occur alongside anxiety disorders and stress-related illnesses. Poverty, domestic abuse, a lack of social support, pressures based on gender, unwanted pregnancies, and a history of mental illness are important risk factors. Untreated CMDs can lead to bad behaviour by mothers, bad outcomes for babies, such being born too early or with low birth weight, and long-term developmental problems for children. Mental health is still not well integrated into standard prenatal care, despite increasing awareness via initiatives like the National Mental Health Programme and Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram. In order to enhance the health outcomes for mothers and children in India, the paper comcludes by suggesting measures such as culturally relevant psychiatric treatment, community-based initiatives, and universal screening programs.