Symptoms at midlife among women in Nagaland, India.

OBJECTIVES

This article highlights the prevalence of symptom frequencies in Nagaland, India, with a focus on depressed mood and hot flashes. We also examine how symptoms cluster together among Naga women and identify factors associated with symptom experience. We hypothesized an elevated frequency of depressed mood because of the stresses associated with social responsibilities within a patriarchal culture, and a low frequency of hot flashes because of the thinness of the population.

METHODS

Standardized questionnaires with close-ended questions were used to determine the frequency of symptoms and sociodemographic and health parameters among women aged 35 to 65 years (n = 352). Factor analysis was used to examine the relations among symptoms. Bivariate analyses and linear regressions were also employed to identify sociodemographic and health factors associated with symptoms.

RESULTS

Menopausal symptoms, such as feeling dizzy or faint, anxiety or panic, and excitable, were significantly higher in premenopausal women; hot flashes in perimenopausal women; and feeling tired or lack in energy, headaches, difficulty in sleeping, and muscle or joint pain in postmenopausal women. Four symptom factors were identified: symptoms related to the loss of estradiol, psychosomatic symptoms, uneasiness, and depressed mood. After adjusting for menopausal status, socioeconomic status, education, and self-reported health status, body mass index was observed to be inversely associated with the depressed mood factor but not other factors.

CONCLUSION

In the context of Nagaland, India, having extra weight may contribute to emotional well-being; however, further research is warranted.