Open Access: View PDF

DOI:

Abstract

Menopause is an unspoken, unattended, reality of life, the cause of which is still deciphered completely by man. This phase of life is shrouded with lots of myths and taboos. During the transition to menopause, women may experience vasomotor, uro-genital, psycho-somatic and psychological symptoms as well as sexual dysfunction. The prevalence of each of these symptoms related to menopause varies across ethnic and socio economic groups. Early recognition of symptoms can help in reduction of discomfort and fears among the women. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of menopausal problems and to identify the strategies adopted by rural postmenopausal women to prevent the menopausal problems. Methodology: A cross sectional descriptive survey design was used to conduct the study at Government General Hospital, Anantapuramu, Andhra Pradesh. A total of 112 rural post menopausal women were selected by purposive sampling technique. Results: 63 percent of respondents had somatic symptoms, 58 percent uro-genital and 36 percent psychological symptoms. 64 percent had not adopted strategies and 36 percent adopted strategies to prevent menopausal problems. Conclusion: The prevalence of menopausal problems was very high and strategies adopted were less. The awareness about menopausal problems was inadequate necessitating to educate the rural post menopausal women to make them fully aware about menopausal phenomena.

Keywords: Menopause; Postmenopausal Women; Menopausal Problems. 

Corresponding Author : G.Venkata Ramana, Professor, Head & Chairman, Board of Studies, Dept. of Sociology, Joint Director, Directorate of Admissions, NSS Programme Coordinator S.K. University, Ananthapuramu-515003, Andhra Pradesh, India.