Assessment of symptoms and quality of life among postmenopausal women in a tertiary care hospital in Kochi, South India: A hospital-based descriptive study

Abstract

Background:Menopause is a physiological event in the women's life that can strongly affect the quality of life (QOL). More than 80% of women state that physical and physiological symptoms commonly accompany menopause and affect women's health and well-being.Objective:The aim of the study was to assess the menopause-related symptoms and their impact on the women's life.Materials and Methods:We have done a hospital-based descriptive study at the Outpatient and Inpatient Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Kochi, Kerala, with 150 postmenopausal women. The data were collected using the structured Menopause-specific QOL (MENQOL) questionnaire. The data were collected for 4 weeks from the Outpatient and Inpatient of Department of OBG with inclusion criteria of women who were coming as bystanders' age in between 50 and 65 years.Statistical Analysis:Mean, standard deviation, frequency, and proportions were calculated. The association between the MENQOL scores and selected demographic variables was found using one-way ANOVA test.Results:Among 150 postmenopausal women, 51 (34%) were in the age group of 55–59 years and more than half of the study population (n = 116, 77.3%) were married. The management of menopausal symptoms was followed by 28 (18.7%) women. The prevalence levels of the classical menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness in women aged 50–65 years were 75.3%, 58%, and 30.7%, respectively. The overall MENQOL mean total score was found as 112.47 ± 28.80. The majority of them experienced the mean physical symptom, which was found to be 62.05 ± 17.82. The associations between QOL scores with educational status and socioeconomic status were statistically highly significant with P < 0.01 and with marital status statistically significant with P < 0.05.Conclusion:From the present study, we have concluded that the postmenopause-related physical symptoms are frequently reported by the middle age group classifications. The association between QOL scores with educational status, socioeconomic status, and marital status was statistically highly significant. By nursing education, creating appropriate awareness and health education on the management of postmenopausal symptoms to that age group and it could be reducing the burden of the women population.

Assessment of Menopausal Symptom Using Modified Menopause Rating Scale among Rural Women of Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh, a Central India Region

“…The most common symptom we encountered was muscle and joint pain (90.45%). This finding is comparable to the study done by Khatoon et al, Lucknow 6 and Senthilvel et al, Kochi, 9 where joint and muscular pain was 87% and 90.7%, respectively. The important factor responsible for this is poor nutritional status of the rural women in our area.…”

Women post menopause: assessment of quality of life and socio-demographic correlates

“…Also, working and earning money for oneself increases confidence and women have a social support in the form of friends and co-workers apart from family members which might elevate the QOL. Similar results were reported by Shobeiri et al and Senthilvel et al 3,8 It was observed in the present study that women belonging to higher socioeconomic class had lower scores and better QOL compared to those belonging to lower class. Also, the married women had lower scores and better QOL as compared to divorced or widows and the difference in scores was statistically significant in all the domains.…”

“…This can be explained by the fact that higher income and good moral and psychological support in the form of a spouse can lead to a fulfilling life and better QOL. Similar results were reported by Senthilvel et al and Poomalar et al 8,9…”

Measurement of Quality of Life in Post Menopausal Women in India -a Systamatic Review

“…17 Sumathi Senthilvel et.al (Dec 2018) conducted descriptive type of study to study menopausal related symptoms and their impact on quality of life in tertiary care hospital in Kochi, India with sample size 150 the average percentage of each domain according to scoring of MEQOL are 66.8% ,66.92 %, 68.92 % 75.56% vasomotor, psychological, physical and sexual respectively. 18 Rajagopal et.al (April 2019) conducted cross-sectional study in Tamilnadu, India to evaluate quality of life in postmenopausal women using MENQOL scale with sample size of 150 this study concluded that the proper education is necessary to improve quality of life in post -menopausal women the average score percentage of MENQOL scale considering each domain is 81%, 61.51%, 62.49%, 41.5% vasomotor, psychological, physical and sexual respectively. 19 R.Sivapragasam et.al (October 2019) conducted a cross sectional study in rural population of India to assess the quality of life in post-menopausal women from Puduherry using MENQOL scale with sample size of 172.…”