Regional Variations in Perinatal Mental Health Across North Indian Cities A Multi Dimensional Analysis of Anxiety and Depression Patterns

This study investigates regional variations in perinatal mental health outcomes across three North Indian cities, focusing on the influence of geographical location and urbanization levels. A cross sectional study was conducted across Azamgarh, Varanasi, and Lucknow n = 300 , with mental health assessed using the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale PASS , Pregnancy Related Anxiety Questionnaire PRAQ , and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Analysis revealed significant regional variations, with Azamgarh showing consistently higher scores across all measures PASS M = 2.44, SD = 0.32 PRAQ M = 3.20, SD = 0.69 Edinburgh M = 2.22, SD = 0.33 compared to more urbanized Lucknow PASS M = 1.74, SD = 0.56 PRAQ M = 2.94, SD = 0.51 Edinburgh M = 1.99, SD = 0.23 . Varanasi consistently occupied an intermediate position with scores falling between these two extremes. Strong correlations between mental health measures r = 0.596–0.723, p 0.001 indicated substantial overlap between anxiety and depressive symptoms. These findings highlight a clear urban rural gradient in perinatal mental health outcomes, suggesting that urbanization level and associated healthcare infrastructure play crucial roles in maternal psychological well being. The study underscores the need for context sensitive interventions that address the unique challenges faced by women in different urban environments. Jyoti Shikha | Dr. Tatheer Fatma "Regional Variations in Perinatal Mental Health Across North Indian Cities: A Multi-Dimensional Analysis of Anxiety and Depression Patterns" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-9 | Issue-5 , October 2025, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd97550.pdf Paper URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/home-science/human-development-and-relationships/97550/regional-variations-in-perinatal-mental-health-across-north-indian-cities-a-multidimensional-analysis-of-anxiety-and-depression-patterns/jyoti-shikha