Distance to health services and treatment-seeking for depressive symptoms in rural India: a repeated cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Research from high-income countries has implicated travel distance to mental health services as an important factor influencing treatment-seeking for mental disorders. This study aimed to test the extent to which travel distance to the nearest depression treatment provider is associated with treatment-seeking for depression in rural India.

Methods

We used data from a population-based survey of adults with probable depression (n = 568), and calculated travel distance from households to the nearest public depression treatment provider with network analysis using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). We tested the association between travel distance to the nearest public depression treatment provider and 12 month self-reported use of services for depression.

Results

SUBMITTER: Roberts T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7214702 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature