Mental Wellbeing and Self-reported Symptoms of Reproductive Tract Infections among Girls

Sushama A Khopkar,Sangita Kulathinal,Suvi M Virtanen,Minna Säävälä

doi:10.23979/fypr.65200

Sushama A Khopkar, Sangita Kulathinal + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.23979/fypr.65200

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Abstract

This study examined the self-reported mental wellbeing among slum-dwelling adolescents in Western India and asked whether adolescent postmenarcheal girls’ mental wellbeing and self-reported symptoms suggestive of reproductive tract infections (RTIs) were associated. A sub-section of a cross-sectional personal interview survey among unmarried 10–18-year-old adolescents (n= 85) in a slum in the city of Nashik was analyzed. Logistic regression models were used to assess the associations between sociodemographic variables, physical health indicators, and adolescent postmenarcheal girls’ mental wellbeing. Nearly every other postmenarcheal girl reported having experienced symptoms suggestive of RTIs during the last twelve months. Adolescent postmenarcheal girls’ mental health and some aspects of somatic health appear to be closely interrelated. Understanding the relationship between adolescent mental wellbeing and reproductive health in low-income countries requires further investigation. Health service development in growing informal urban agglomerations in India and beyond should provide combined mental and reproductive health services for adolescents.

Highlights

Research on the linkage between women’s various reproductive and mental health conditions has shown that reproductive health problems pose particular strain on mental wellbeing (Astbury et al 2009; WHO 2009)
Lack of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services together with the socio-cultural stigma of premarital sexuality can potentially deepen the inter-linkages between reproductive health problems and poor mental wellbeing among unmarried adolescents
Data on mental wellbeing score and symptoms of Reproductive Tract Infections (RTIs) were available for 85 girls in the inner-city slum

Summary

Introduction

Research on the linkage between women’s various reproductive and mental health conditions has shown that reproductive health problems pose particular strain on mental wellbeing (Astbury et al 2009; WHO 2009). The reproductive mental health situation of the unmarried and the adolescents in lowincome settings, such as urban informal settlements in India, remains poorly understood (Astbury et al 2009; WHO 2009). Lack of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services together with the socio-cultural stigma of premarital sexuality can potentially deepen the inter-linkages between reproductive health problems and poor mental wellbeing among unmarried adolescents. A study by Patel et al (2006) describes the association of two key determinants of women’s health in developing countries, gender disadvantage and reproductive health, with the prevalence of common mental disorders among women in a general population in India

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