Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) as Common Mental Disorders (CMD) Screening Tool Among Women in Low-Income Rural Communities of India

Background: CMD is not well-recognized or investigated in low-income countries, especially in rural settings. Quantifying population prevalence and identifying correlates of poor mental health is critical in improving patient health and addressing associated effects.

Methods:A cross-sectional health survey of 700 women, 18-45 years, was conducted in a hospital clinic and sixteen surrounding villages in rural Gujarat, India in October 2011. A translated version of the World Health Organization’s Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) was used to screen for CMD with the cut-off score for a positive screen being ≥ 8. The survey also included information on individual and household-level characteristics.

Results: Data from 663 completed surveys were analyzed. Among the respondents, 157 (23.7%) screened positive for CMD and 76 (11.5%) endorsed suicidal ideation. More than 95% of those who screened positive had at least one healthcare provider visit in the past year; 81.5% of whom had no previous diagnosis of depression. Food insecurity, high levels of stress, and poor health status were strong correlates of CMD and suicidal ideation. Self-perception of health status was a sensitive, but not specific, proxy of CMD, as measured by the SRQ-20.

Conclusions: Findings suggest a high prevalence of undiagnosed CMD among women in rural Gujarat, India. High utilization of healthcare services among positively screened respondents indicates a viable venue for screening. Training primary care providers to identify risk factors and screen for CMD in addition to increased resource allocation toward mental health services is necessary to effectively address CMD among women in low-income communities.