Muhammad Adil Khan, Sadar Badshah
Anatolian Journal of Mental Health - 2025;2(2):45-56
Aim: This study aims to examine the relationship between socioeconomic status and prenatal depression among expectant mothers attending tertiary hospitals in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Methods: A descriptive cross -sectional study was conducted, involving 428 pregnant women recruited using convenience sampling. We collected information using the Poverty Score Card to find out socioeconomic status and the Patient Health Questionnaire -9 (PHQ -9) to assess the degree of depression. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to infer the data. Results: The study found that 56.5% of participants experienced prenatal depression, with 43.5% having minimal depression, and 23.6% reported severe depression. The low -income group (50.0%) had the highest rates of moderate to severe depression (56.1%). In comparison , the high -income group (12.1%) had the lowest rates of severe depression (15.4%) and the highest rate of minimal depression (69.2%). The Pearson Chi -Square test ( chi² = 37.243, p = 0.000) revealed a statistically significant association between socioeconomi c status and depression severity, with financial instability being a key risk factor. Conclusion: For the purpose of enhancing maternal well -being outcomes in settings with limited resources, the findings emphasize the necessity of focused mental health strategies and socioeconomic assistance for expectant mothers, especially those from households with fewer resources.
