Quality of Life among Postmenopausal Women: A Community-based Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Postmenopausal women have various problems that may affect their quality of life. However, published reports from nearby communities of the capital of province 1 of Nepal are lacking. Hence, we aimed to determine the quality of life of postmenopausal women in selected communities of Morang, Nepal. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from August to October 2021 among 200 postmenopausal women of Budhiganga Rural Municipality. Menopause-specific quality of life (MENQoL) that included vasomotor, psychological, physical, and sexual domains was assessed. Factors that may affect it were also assessed. Results: Majority of the participants had sweating (80.5%), accomplishing less than earlier (95.0%), decrease in physical strength, feeling lack of energy (98.1%), and avoiding intimacy (98.5%) in vasomotor, psychosocial, physical, and sexual domains respectively. The highest mean score was found in the sexual (5.02 ± 0.82) followed by physical (3.43 ± 0.51), vasomotor (3.0 ± 1.08), and psychosocial domain (2.74 ± 0.80). The MENQoL score was 3.48 ± 0.53 with a significant association with age and occupation. The psychosocial domain had a significant association with age, marital status, occupation, history of childbirth, current smoking, and current alcohol use. The physical domain had a significant association with age, religion, marital status, occupation, and history of childbirth. The sexual domain had a significant association with age and current alcohol use. Conclusion: Sexual domain was the most affected in postmenopausal women followed by physical, vasomotor, and psychosocial domain. Age, occupation, marital status, history of childbirth, current smoking, and current alcohol use were the factors associated with MENQoL.

Factors Determining the Quality of Life of Polish Women during Menopause Based on the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire

“…Moreover, women in their 50s are required to be fully physically, intellectually and socially active. The results of our study, as well as reports from other countries, confirm that as women’s age increases, the severity of menopausal symptoms reduces their overall quality of life [ 6 , 22 , 23 ]. We have found that the older the respondents, the lower their assessed quality of life in the psychosocial, physical and sexual domains.…”

“…The need for family support and a sense of emotional bonds also increases with age [ 23 ]. The severity of menopausal complaints may be related to the partner’s attitude towards the changes that menopause entails [ 27 ].…”

Checking Health of Postmenopausal Women- A Dire Need in our Society

“…The authors have reported accomplishing less than earlier as a major symptom in the psychosocial domain [1]. The menopausal symptoms deregulate the energy balance and hamper work ability.…”