Profile of menopausal women in rural north India

Abstract

Objective: To ascertain the profile of menopausal women in rural north India. Setting Six villages were selected in a rural field practice area of Department of Community Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, north India.

Methods: A female social worker obtained relevant data in the study area during 1999-2001. This involved individual interviews of women aged 35-55 years through a house-to-house survey.

Results: Of the 558 enlisted women, 152 (27.2%) had attained menopause. Average age at menopause was 44.1 years. More than half (53%) reported seven or more symptoms at menopause. Diminished vision was reported as the most common symptom at menopause. The majority (85%) admitted that menopause adversely affected women's physical health. However, most of them (95%) considered menopause socially good for women and welcomed it. None of our respondents reported use of hormone replacement therapy.

Conclusion: Women in rural north India viewed menopause positively. Medication of menopause was minimal.