Quality of Life of Menopausal Women Residing Dharan Sub-metropolitan City, Nepal

Abstract

Background: Menopause poses a big challenge during middle age and to the healthy aging of woman. Majority of women face various problems and disturbances in daily living leading to decrease in quality of life. This study focuses on menopause related symptoms and quality of life in relation to the symptoms. Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 women of age 40-60 years at Dharan Sub-metropolitan City of Nepal selected through snowball sampling technique. The data were collected over the period of four weeks. Semi- structured questionnaire for demographic variables and menopause specific quality of life (MENQOL) questionnaire were used to collect data. Interview technique was adapted. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to interpret data. Result: Mean menopausal age of the study group was 47.14 years. The most common symptoms of vasomotor, psychosocial, physical and sexual domains were hot flushes, experiencing poor memory, feeling tired or worn out and change in sexual desire respectively. The overall score of menopausal quality of life for each domain reported that highest the mean score in sexual domain (3.58 ± 1.62) and least score in vasomotor domain (2.08 ± 1.67). The score of physical domain was significantly high in late postmenopausal group than early postmenopausal group. Significant association was obtained with age, ethnicity, menopause status, physical activity and marital status in relation to the domains of quality of life. Conclusions: The results conclude that all the menopausal women were having at least one menopausal symptom from each domain. The menopausal women scored highest in sexual domain and least in vasomotor domain suggesting decrease quality of life in relation to sexual domain. Menopausal symptoms were associated with decrease in quality of life. Thus awareness regarding the menopausal changes should be focused in premenopausal age group of women

Health-related quality of life among menopausal women: A cross-sectional study from Pokhara, Nepal

“…This study was conducted to assess the quality of life and its associated factors among the menopausal women in Pokhara using the Menopausal Rating Scale (MRS). In the present study, the mean age at Menopause was 47.88±3.2, which is in line with the findings of earlier studies from different parts of Nepal like Kapilvastu (46.3) [19], Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur (48.7) [5], Rupandehi (46.81) [20], Dharan (47.14±4.38) [15], Kathmandu (49.9) [21] and Kaski (47.12±4.34) [22].…”

“…The present study showed a significant association between ethnicity and quality of life among menopausal women, which is supported by the existing studies from Nepal [15,31].…”

“…Age, education, ethnicity [2], longer duration since Menopause, not staying with a partner [15] smoking, diet, exercise, reproductive history belief, and attitude towards menopausal symptoms are factors affecting the health-related quality of life among menopausal women.…”

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

“…Perhaps those who are in a relationship feel more embarrassed in front of their partner about menopause-induced symptoms. In contrast, studies by other authors suggest that married women have a more positive attitude towards the menopause than divorced/single women and enjoy a better quality of life [ 28 , 29 ].…”