Severity and determinants of depression among parents following child loss in Bankura District West Bengal

BACKGROUND: The death of a child is one of the most distressing life events, often leading to profound psychological consequences for parents. Depression following child loss remains underexplored in rural Indian settings, where social and cultural contexts influence coping mechanisms and mental health outcomes. The present study aims to assess the severity and determinants of depression among parents who have lost a child in the Bankura district of West Bengal, India. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 500 parents who had experienced the loss of a child. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to assess depression severity. Descriptive statistics summarized socio-demographic, child-loss, and psychosocial characteristics. Binary logistic regression identified independent predictors of moderate-to-severe depression (PHQ-9 ≥ 10), with results reported as adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: The mean PHQ-9 score among respondents was 11.8 ± 6.2. Overall, 60% of participants exhibited moderate-to-severe depression. Depression severity was higher among females (AOR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.02-1.70, p = 0.03), those with low social support (AOR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.55-3.10, p < 0.001), and respondents with no surviving children (AOR = 1.80, 95% CI: 1.15-2.82, p = 0.01). Belonging to Scheduled Tribe (AOR = 1.84, p < 0.001) and Muslim (AOR = 1.25, p < 0.001) groups also significantly increased depression risk. Parents with a history of mental illness were over twice as likely to experience depression (AOR = 2.50, 95% CI: 1.55-4.03, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Depression is a major public health concern among parents who have lost a child, especially among those with limited social and emotional support. The study underscores the need to integrate mental health screening followed by grief counseling and community-based psychosocial interventions within primary healthcare services to support bereaved parents in rural India.