An assessment of QOL and its determining factors of post menopausal women in a rural area of West Bengal, India: A multivariate analysis

Sudeshna Ray,Aparajita Dasgupta

doi:10.5530/ijmedph.2.4.3

Abstract

International Journal of Medicine and Public Health,2012,2,4,12-19.DOI:10.5530/ijmedph.2.4.3Published:Oct 2012Type:Original ArticleAn assessment of QOL and its determining factors of post menopausal women in a rural area of West Bengal, India: A multivariate analysisSudeshna Ray, and Aparajita Dasgupta Dr. Sudeshna Ray1 and Professor Aparajita Dasgupta2 1Post graduate trainee, 2Professor and Head of the Department, Department of Community Medicine. All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Kolkata, India Abstract:Objective: The aim was to assess QOL and its determining factors among postmenopausal women of a rural area of West- Bengal in India. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 315 postmenopausal women and the data were collected using the modified menopause quality of life questionnaire of Hilditch. (Hilditch MENQOL). Results: Out of the 315 women who have been interviewed 243 (77%) had poor quality of life. Multivariate analysis revealed that poor QOL was more among those who did not live with their own children [AOR (95% C.I.) 4.26 (2.1–8.6)], did not undertake regular exercise, [AOR (95% C.I.) 2.88 (1.38–6.03)], were literate [AOR (95% C.I.) 2.5 (1.13–4.8)], were monetarily dependent on their children [AOR (95% C.I.) 2.5 (1.32–4.88)], not living under one roof with children [AOR (95% C.I.) 4.26 (2.1–8.6)] and had attained menopause >5 years. [AOR (95% C.I.) 4.82 (2.47–9.41)]. Conclusion: Different stakeholders are required to mobilize the post-menopausal women through IEC activities to cope up with the stress of the post-menopausal phase and acquire a better quality of life beyond their reproductive age. Keywords:Determinants of QOL, Multivariate analysis, Post-Menopausal Women, Quality of LifeView:PDF (367.99 KB)

Highlights

One of the goals of health services for all of the people in the 21st century is to improve quality-of-life
Previous studies that evaluated the association between menopausal symptoms and socio-demographic and lifestyle factors, reported that lower socio-economic status, education, length of menopause, physical activity, and age were related to QOL,8,9 the results were confirmed in this study too
In a study in Iran, it was reported that there was a correlation between marital status and psychological and sexual QOL,9 while our study revealed that deterioration of relationship with husband after menopause had a detrimental effect on the QOL of post-menopausal women, in terms of her psychosocial wellbeing, but it affected her sexual, physical and vasomotor domains, influencing the QOL of the woman in all the four major domains

Summary

Introduction

One of the goals of health services for all of the people in the 21st century is to improve quality-of-life. By WHO definition, quality-of-life is the individual’s perception of her status in life according to the cultural and value systems the person lives in, considering his goals, expectations, standards and concerns.. The quality of life of a woman in the post-menopausal age group are influenced by socio-cultural and behavioral factors compounded by their health related perceptions and health seeking behavior. Post-menopausal symptoms give rise to social consequences like the disruption of women’s domestic activities and economic role and damage to psychological and emotional well-being which affect their quality of life. Most of these dimensions are extensively studied in women of reproductive age group

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion