Behind the Paper

Associations of Internet Use and Pregnancy Loss with Depression and Anxiety among Women in Bangladesh: Insights from the 2022 BDHS

My published study explores how pregnancy loss and internet use relate to depression and anxiety among Bangladeshi women using BDHS 2022 data, highlighting regional disparities and potential interventions to reduce mental health burdens.
Md Salek Miah Jan 13, 2026

Background

Mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety, are significant concerns among Bangladeshi women. While previous studies focused on individual risk factors, there has been little research exploring the combined impact of pregnancy loss and internet use on mental health.

Methods

  • Data: 19,987 ever-married women from BDHS 2022.

  • Measures: Depression (PHQ-9), Anxiety (GAD-7).

  • Analysis: Stepwise survey-weighted multinomial logistic regression and spatial analysis to detect regional patterns.

Key Findings

  • Pregnancy loss is linked to higher odds of depression and anxiety:

    • One loss: Anxiety AOR = 1.31; Depression AOR = 1.29

    • Two or more losses: Anxiety AOR = 1.82; Depression AOR = 1.43

  • Internet use in the past 12 months is associated with lower odds of depression (AOR = 0.77) and anxiety (AOR = 0.65).

  • Regional disparities: Rangpur shows the highest burden of mental health symptoms, while Dhaka has the lowest.

Implications for Research and Practice

  • Enhancing reproductive health programs and improving internet access can potentially reduce depression and anxiety among women in high-burden regions.

  • Spatially-informed interventions may help target mental health resources more effectively.

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