- Study Design:
- A cross-sectional study design will be employed to examine the relationship between reproductive health and mental well-being. This design will allow for the collection of data from a large and diverse sample of women at a specific point in time, providing a snapshot of the relationship between the variables of interest.
- Participants:
- The study will include women aged 18-45 years from diverse backgrounds. Participants will be recruited through various channels, including community organizations, healthcare facilities, and online platforms. Efforts will be made to ensure a representative sample in terms of age, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and geographic location.
- Data Collection:
- Questionnaire: A comprehensive self-administered questionnaire will be developed to collect data on reproductive health and mental well-being. The questionnaire will include validated scales and items related to menstrual health, contraceptive use, pregnancy experiences, gynecological disorders, and mental well-being. It will also capture demographic information and relevant confounding factors.
- Ethical Considerations: Participants will be provided with informed consent forms explaining the purpose, procedures, and confidentiality of the study. Confidentiality and data protection will be strictly maintained throughout the study.
- Measures:
- Reproductive Health: The questionnaire will include items assessing menstrual health (e.g., menstrual regularity, pain, and duration), contraceptive use (e.g., type of contraception, satisfaction, and adherence), pregnancy experiences (e.g., past pregnancies, childbirth, and postpartum mental health), and gynecological disorders (e.g., endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome).
- Mental Well-being: Mental well-being will be assessed using validated scales such as the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS). These scales will capture symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and overall mental well-being.
- Data Analysis:
- The collected data will be analyzed using appropriate statistical methods. Descriptive statistics will be computed to summarize demographic characteristics and reproductive health variables. Bivariate analyses (e.g., chi-square tests, t-tests) will be conducted to examine associations between reproductive health factors and mental well-being. Multivariate regression analysis will be employed to assess the independent contribution of reproductive health variables on mental well-being, controlling for potential confounders.
- Ethical Considerations:
- The study will adhere to ethical guidelines and obtain approval from the relevant institutional review board. Participant anonymity and confidentiality will be ensured throughout the data collection and analysis processes.
