Journal of Primeasia
Integrative Disciplinary Research | Online ISSN 3064-9870 | Print ISSN 3069-4353
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Volume 6 Number 1 2025
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)
Rural Depression in Bangladesh: A Community-Level Assessment from Kushtia District
Md. Ammar Hossain1*
Journal of Primeasia 6 (1) 1-10 https://doi.org/10.25163/primeasia.6110476
Submitted: 11 July 2025 Revised: 17 September 2025 Accepted: 18 September 2025 Published: 20 September 2025
Abstract
Depression remains one of the world’s most pervasive yet least openly expressed mental health conditions, and this silence is even more pronounced in rural regions of low- and middle-income countries. In Bangladesh, much of the national discourse on mental health overlooks the lived realities of rural communities, where socioeconomic vulnerabilities, aging, and limited awareness heighten risks. This study, supported by a community-level assessment from Lahini village in the Kushtia District, aims to contextualize rural depression within broader global and national findings. A survey of 100 adults was administered the PHQ-9, followed by chi-square (χ²) analyses examining associations between depression severity and key demographic factors including age, gender, marital status, occupation, and income. The findings reveal that 36% of respondents experienced moderate to severe depressive symptoms, aligning with global observations that rural populations face disproportionate mental health burdens. Age (p = 0.00016) and income (p = 0.00064) emerged as the strongest predictors of depressive severity, consistent with evidence that late-life vulnerability and economic instability significantly shape mental health outcomes. Notably, nearly 70% of individuals with the highest depression scores were aged 60–70, and more than half (57.14%) were widowed, suggesting the compounded impact of social isolation and economic precarity. In contrast, younger students reported the lowest depression levels. Alarmingly, only 19% of participants demonstrated any awareness of mental health conditions, underscoring a profound knowledge gap. Together, the study and local findings call for urgent psychosocial interventions, community-based education, and targeted support for elderly and economically disadvantaged populations in rural Bangladesh.
Keywords: Depression, PHQ-9, Mental Health, Rural Bangladesh, Kushtia District
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