CLIMACTERIC SYNDROME: SYMPTOM PREVALENCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE ASSESSMENT, A PROXY OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES.

Abstract

Background- Climacteric, is that particular phase in ageing women, which marks the transition from the reproductive phase to non-reproductive state and is often associated with symptomatology, referring to as climacteric syndrome. The health services rendered in this regard, makes a great impact on the women’s quality of life. The paucity of publication in this regard, insisted the need of recognizing these symptoms and hence a study to know the symptom prevalence and to assess the quality of life among peri-menopausal women.Methods- A cross-sectional study among 100 women in the age group of 45-60 years, employed in various educational institutes were carried out using the MENQOL questionnaire, on 4 domains, involving the Vasomotor, Psychosocial, Physical and Sexual aspects. The responses were graded on Likert scale and analyzed by Kruskal wallis H and Mann Whitney U tests.Results- 53% of the women in the study were in the age group of 45-50 years, 50% of them were over-weight, and 75% had muscle and joint pains, followed by headache and backache in 60% of women. Higher literates and upper-middle class had better quality of life with less psychosocial symptoms (p<0.01), and less vasomotor, physical and sexual symptoms (p<0.05). Symptom were more under psychological and physical domain in Muslim women, compared to Hindus (p<0.05). Vasomotor symptoms were more in the women aged 45-50 years (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the level of quality of life between type of family, marital status of women and different BMI values (P>0.05).Conclusion- There is paucity of studies in regards to quality of life among peri-menopausal women. Initiatives programs by the government for post-menopausal women ought to be initiated owing to their special needs.