Assessment of Quality of Life in Post − Menopausal Women: A Questionnaire Study

ABSTRACT

Background: Menopausal women may experience vasomotor, urogenital and psychological symptoms as well as sexual dysfunction. These problems are often attributed to hormonal changes during midlife and are projected as health risk. The present study was conducted to assess the quality of life (QOL) and determinants in postmenopausal women. Materials & Methods: The present study was conducted on 140 postmenopausal women age ranged 45- 60 years of age. All women were provided with a pre-designed questionnaire containing 24 questions about quality-of-life in menopause. Scores for vasomotor aspect ranged from 0 to 6, for psychosocial aspect from 0 to 18, for physical aspect from 0 to 42 and for sexual aspects from 0 to 6. Results: 60 women were <50 years and 80 were >50 years. Psychosocial score of 5-15 was observed in 42 women, vasomotor score of 2-5 was seen in, physical score of 24-33 was seen in 12 and sexual score of 2-4 was seen in 32 women. 65 women had more than 5 years of menopause while 75 had less than 5 years. 110 women exercise in the form of brisk walking while 30 do not. In 90 women, relation with husband deteriorated after menopause and 50 women never complained of this. 80 were living with their children while 60 not. 50 women had support from their children while 90 had not. 75 women had good perception of her heath while 65 had average perception. All domain showed significant difference in QOL. Conclusion: Post-menopausal women who fall in a transitional population between the reproductive age group and geriatric population need special attention. Their quality of life is highly determined by physical domain and psychosocial domain