Women’s reproductive health in South Asia is shaped by a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and socio-cultural factors, yet the mental health dimension remains largely neglected. This chapter explores how mental health challenges manifest across the reproductive lifespan—from menstruation, pregnancy, and postpartum to menopause. Conditions such as antenatal and postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, and premenstrual syndrome are highly prevalent but often underdiagnosed due to stigma, lack of awareness, and limited mental health integration into reproductive care. The psychological impact is intensified by sociocultural pressures surrounding fertility, marriage, motherhood, and deeply rooted gender norms, specifically in South Asian countries. Domestic violence and sexual dysfunction further compromise women’s emotional well-being. Alarming prevalence rates of maternal mental disorders, particularly in countries like Pakistan and Nepal, highlight the need for urgent action. Strengthening policy focus, community-based interventions, and awareness campaigns are crucial to bridging the mental health gap in reproductive care and promoting holistic well-being for South Asian women.

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Reproductive Psychiatry in South Asia: Disease Burden and Services Gap

  • Prerna Kukreti,
  • Sujita Kumar Kar,
  • S. M. Yasir Arafat

摘要

Women’s reproductive health in South Asia is shaped by a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and socio-cultural factors, yet the mental health dimension remains largely neglected. This chapter explores how mental health challenges manifest across the reproductive lifespan—from menstruation, pregnancy, and postpartum to menopause. Conditions such as antenatal and postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, and premenstrual syndrome are highly prevalent but often underdiagnosed due to stigma, lack of awareness, and limited mental health integration into reproductive care. The psychological impact is intensified by sociocultural pressures surrounding fertility, marriage, motherhood, and deeply rooted gender norms, specifically in South Asian countries. Domestic violence and sexual dysfunction further compromise women’s emotional well-being. Alarming prevalence rates of maternal mental disorders, particularly in countries like Pakistan and Nepal, highlight the need for urgent action. Strengthening policy focus, community-based interventions, and awareness campaigns are crucial to bridging the mental health gap in reproductive care and promoting holistic well-being for South Asian women.