Do self-reported well-being and residence predict depression and anxiety in Mozambican women? A national survey analysis

Background
Understanding the intersection of well-being, residential location and mental health outcomes is essential for developing effective mental health interventions for women in Mozambique.

Objective
To examine whether self-reported well-being and place of residence predict depression and anxiety symptoms

Methods
A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from the 2023 Mozambique Demographic and Health Survey, with a sample of 13,057 women aged 15 to 49 years. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify significant predictors of depression and anxiety.

Results
The majority report good well-being (76.2 %), rural residency (56.7 %), no history of depression (98.6 %) and low anxiety (90.7 %). Women reporting moderate well-being were 1.5 times as likely to be diagnosed with depression (AOR = 1.54, 95 % CI: 1.05–2.27, p = 0.028) and 1.7 times as likely to feel anxious (AOR = 1.66, 95 % CI: 1.34– 2.05, p = 0.001) compared to those with good well-being. Those reporting bad well-being were 2.6 times as likely to feel anxious (AOR = 2.63, 95 % CI: 1.75–3.95, p = 0.001) compared to those with good well-being. Additionally, rural women were 0.35 times as likely to feel anxious (AOR = 0.65, 95 % CI: 0.49–0.85, p = 0.001) than their urban counterparts.

Conclusion
There is a link between self-reported well-being, place of residence, and mental health outcomes among women in Mozambique, with urban women being more likely to experience mental health conditions, indicating the need for targeted mental health interventions and support.