Prevalence of Common Mental Disorders Among Antenatal Women in Jaipur, India: A Comparative Study of Rural and Urban Populations

Background Common mental disorders (CMDs) among pregnant women represent a significant public health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Limited comparative data exist on the prevalence of CMDs between rural and urban pregnant populations in Rajasthan, India, which was the focus of this study. Methods A community-based, cross-sectional, comparative study was conducted from May to December 2022 in Jaipur. A total of 400 pregnant women (200 each from rural and urban areas) were recruited through simple random sampling from the field practice areas of the Urban Health Training Centre (UHTC), Jhalana Doongri, and the Rural Health Training Centre (RHTC), Dadiya village. Data collection utilised a structured socio-demographic questionnaire and the validated WHO SRQ-20 for CMD screening, with a cut-off score of ≥8 for CMD-positive. Results The overall prevalence of CMDs was 84 (21.0%) (95% CI: 17.08-24.92). Rural participants demonstrated a higher CMD prevalence at 48 (24.0%) (95% CI: 18.12-29.88) compared to urban participants at 36 (18.0%) (95% CI: 12.71-23.29), with an odds ratio of 1.44. However, this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.177). Significant demographic differences were observed between populations, including caste distribution (p < 0.001), educational attainment (p = 0.001), family structure (p < 0.001), socioeconomic status (p < 0.001), and reproductive history (p < 0.001). Conclusion Both rural and urban pregnant women in Jaipur district experience a substantial CMD burden, necessitating the integration of mental health screening into routine antenatal care. Socio-demographic disparities between populations necessitate context-specific interventions tailored to local risk factors and cultural contexts.