Menopausal and post-menopausal women of health status at Assiut Governorate

ABSTRACT

According to the WHO increase in life - expectancy and aging associated problems are increased, in developing countries 5 to 8% of the population arc postmenopausal women [WHO 1996]. The aim of this study is to assess menopausal and postmenopausal women health status in Assiut Governorate. A descriptive study was conducted; the target population was four hundred postmenopausal women, 220 from urban [Assiut city] and 180 women from rural [El-Asara and Mosha village].During the period from first March 2009 to the end of August 2009, Data was collected through home visits by using an interview questionnaire sheet developed by the investigator. . It includes three parts. First part includes socio demographic characteristics [age, residence, education, occupation, marital status, and income]. Second Part includes Physical characteristics, [height, weight, blood pressure, elimination, nutritional habits, teeth, sleeping hours and daily activities]. Third Part includes Health characteristics; [periodic check-up, health problems, exposure to accident some physiological changes related to age].The results reveled that the mean age of the studied sample at menopause was 45.9+3.7.The most common symptoms hot flushes [61%] and insomnia [51%].About Three quarter [76%] percent of women had health problems, the most common were hypertension [36.5] and diabetes [20.5%]. The percentage of agreement was statistically significant higher among women of post- menopause more than 60 years p<0.05. In .conclusion most of postmenopausal women were suffering from hot flushes and insomnia with menopause and had health problems .The present study recommended Increase the awareness of women regarding menopausal changes through mass media, educational programs in postmenopausal clinics