Factors affecting severity of menopausal symptoms: A cross-sectional study among post-menopausal females in a teaching institution in central India.

Abstract

Background: Menopause and its effects on lifestyle of a woman has now become an important emerging public health issue owing to the global rise in life expectancy. Menopause is not a disease but the symptoms and their severities, can be very challenging and remain largely ignored by the policy makers and physicians.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to find out the factors influencing the severity of menopausal symptoms among post-menopausal females.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study conducted for a period of one year. Data collected using systematic random sampling from 255 post-menopausal women and analysis was performed with Epi-Info 7.2. Chi-square applied as statistical test of significance for the association between severity of menopausal symptoms and qualitative variables. P < 0.05 considered to be statistically significant.

Results: The mean age of the study participants was found to be 53.86 ± 7.15 years. The present study concludes that residing locality, educational status, occupation, certain lifestyle factors and some socio-cultural factors, type of menopause and duration since menopause was found to be statistically significantly related to severity of menopausal symptoms.

Conclusion: Large efforts are required to make women aware of menopausal symptoms so that they can seek treatment, if necessary.