Prevalence and Sociodemographic Factors Associated with Depression among Perimenopausal Women: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study from Northern India

Background: The menopausal transition is a period of increased vulnerability to depression. However, community-based Indian studies using standardized diagnostic interviews remain limited. The objectives were to estimate the prevalence of depression among perimenopausal women and assess its association with selected sociodemographic factors. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 205 perimenopausal women aged 40 years and above in rural and peri-urban areas of Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, from July 2019 to February 2020. Menopausal staging was determined using the STRAW+10 criteria, and depression was diagnosed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), version 5.0.0. Sociodemographic associations were assessed using univariate logistic regression. Results: Depression was diagnosed in 28 women, yielding a prevalence of 13.7%. Significantly higher odds of depression were observed among women aged 45-49 years (OR=2.70; 95% CI: 1.05-6.96), those belonging to the lower-income group (OR=2.65; 95% CI: 1.16-6.08), single women (OR=5.03; 95% CI: 1.76-14.39), and illiterate women (OR=2.63; 95% CI: 1.02-6.82). Conclusion: Depression constitutes a considerable mental health concern among perimenopausal women. Integrating depression screening into primary healthcare services, particularly for socioeconomically disadvantaged women, may facilitate early identification and timely intervention.