Krishnamoorthy Yuvaraj, Sarveswaran Gokul, Jayaseelan Venkatachalam, Sakthivel Manikandanesan, Arivarasan Yashodha, Bharathnag N
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India.
J Midlife Health. 2018 Oct-Dec;9(4):173-179. doi: 10.4103/jmh.JMH_61_18.
An average Indian woman spends almost one-third of her lifespan in the postmenopausal phase enduring the consequences of hormonal decline. This can have a significant impact on quality of life (QOL). Hence, this study was conducted to assess the QOL and health problems among postmenopausal women in urban Puducherry, South India.
A cross-sectional study was carried out among postmenopausal women attending urban primary health center between April and May 2017. Information about social, economic, and demographic characteristics was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire, and menopause rating scale was used to assess the QOL.
Among 204 participants, 55.4% belonged to elderly age group (≥60 years); 61.3% did not have any formal education; 55.9% of the participants were unemployed; 68.7% were widowed, separated, or divorced; 89.7% belonged to Hindu religion; and 42.2% belonged to lower socioeconomic class. Majority (78%) suffered from psychological problems followed by somatovegetative (62%) and urogenital problems (33%). The prevalence of poor QOL was 37.2% (95% confidence interval: 30.8%-44.0%). Participants belonging to Hindu religion (annual percentage rate [aPR]-4.14), in nuclear family (aPR-2.31), and with chronic comorbidity (aPR-5.52) and alcohol/tobacco users (aPR-6.03) had significantly higher risk of poor QOL.
The current study found that more than one-third of the postmenopausal women in urban Puducherry have poor QOL with majority suffering from psychological problems. Hence, more focus needs to be given to this target population to achieve physical, social, and mental well-being among females.
印度普通女性一生中近三分之一的时间处于绝经后阶段，承受着激素下降带来的后果。这可能对生活质量（QOL）产生重大影响。因此，本研究旨在评估印度南部本地治里市城市绝经后女性的生活质量和健康问题。
2017年4月至5月间，对前往城市初级卫生中心的绝经后女性进行了一项横断面研究。使用半结构化问卷收集社会、经济和人口特征信息，并使用绝经评定量表评估生活质量。
在204名参与者中，55.4%属于老年年龄组（≥60岁）；61.3%没有接受过任何正规教育；55.9%的参与者失业；68.7%为丧偶、分居或离婚；89.7%属于印度教；42.2%属于社会经济地位较低的阶层。大多数人（78%）患有心理问题，其次是躯体植物神经问题（62%）和泌尿生殖问题（33%）。生活质量差的患病率为37.2%（95%置信区间：30.8%-44.0%）。属于印度教（年百分比率[aPR]-4.14）、核心家庭（aPR-2.31）、患有慢性合并症（aPR-5.52）以及酗酒/吸烟的参与者（aPR-6.03）生活质量差的风险显著更高。
当前研究发现，本地治里市城市超过三分之一的绝经后女性生活质量差，大多数人患有心理问题。因此，需要更多关注这一目标人群，以实现女性的身体、社会和心理健康。
