KUMJ | VOL. 16 | NO. 4 | ISSUE 64 | OCT.-DEC. 2018

Quality of Life of Menopausal Women in Majhifeda VDC, Kavrepalanchok, Nepal
Prajapati LM, Shrestha GK, Sanjel S

Abstract:
Background Menopause is defined as the permanent cessation of menstruation resulting from the loss of ovarian follicular activity. This is established fact that the quality of life of menopausal women deteriorates as the effect of menopausal symptoms. Objective To assess the physical domain, psychological domain, vasomotor domain for quality of life and its association with selected socio-demographic variables of menopausal women. Method Descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among the menopausal women aged 45-60 years whose menstruation has ceased for a complete one year naturally excluding those having thyroid disorders and mentally disable. Structured questionnaire was used adopting Nepali version of Modified Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL) questionnaire. Data collection was accomplished during August - September 2016. Data entered in MS excel were analysis using SPSS version 21. Descriptive as well as inferential statistics were applied for the data analysis. Result Among vasomotor domain hot flushes or flashes (81.9%), sweating (76.7%) and night sweats (73.3%); among psychosocial domain accomplishing less than I used to (94.8%), experiencing poor memory (80.2%), being impatient with other people (76.7%), feeling depressed down or blue (71.6%), feeling anxious or nervous (55.2%), feeling of wanting to be alone (55.2%) and being dissatisfied with my personal life (37.1%). Among physical domain aching in muscles and joints (94.8%), decrease in physical strength (94.8%), low backache (88.8%), feeling tired or worn out (84.0%), difficulty sleeping (81.0%), aches in back of neck or head (76.7%) were the major symptoms. Among sexual domain vaginal dryness during sexual intercourse (60.3%), avoiding intimacy (52.6%) and change in sexual desire (55.2%) were the major symptoms. Overall observation is that vasomotor symptoms were highest followed by sexual, psychosocial and physical symptoms having statistically significant association between vasomotor symptoms and ethnicity (p=0.019) and sexual symptoms and marital status (p=0.010). Conclusion Majority of the study subjects were from the marginalized groups of people. Vasomotor symptoms had highest prevalence followed by sexual, psychological and physical symptoms. As significant associations were observed between vasomotor symptoms and ethnicity and sexual symptoms and marital status, awareness and periodical checkups were recommended.
Keyword : Physical, Psychological, Quality of life, Sexual, Symptoms, Vasomotor