THRIVING BEYOND CHANGE: FREQUENCY, SEVERITY, AND ASSOCIATION OF SYMPTOMS WITH CLINICODEMOGRAPHICS OF POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN OF KECH, TURBAT.

JPUMHS;2024:14:03,3-11.http://doi.org/10.46536/jpumhs/2024/14.03.528

Abstract

ABSTRACT
BACKGROUNDFor women, the menopause is a normal and significant life transition, but it's also commonly linked to
stigmas and misconceptions. The major health problems that postmenopausal women encounter were to be identified, along
with the knowledge, attitudes, and practices surrounding seeking medical attention for these problems, as well as the
utilization pattern and any barriers to using these services. METHODS: From March 2023 to March 2024, a cross-sectional
study was carried out at the Turbat Teaching Hospital at KECH at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Following
the acquisition of written informed consent, all postmenopausal women visiting the OPD were chosen one after the other. A
pre-made survey was employed to assess the behavior of individuals seeking medical attention. In tables and graphs, the
results were presented as percentages and frequencies. Where appropriate, the logistic regression analysis and chi-square
test were used. A significance level of p≤0.05 was deemed to exist. RESULTS:Participants in the study ranged in age from
40 to 80 years old, with a mean age of 61.47±8.28. 188 29.1% were from rural areas and 130 40.9% were residents from
rural. Maximum patients were rom nuclear families who stays away from relatives 212 66.7% who smokes hookah 148
46.5% and eats gutka 12 3.8%. Post-menopausal women had variety of symptoms to report as in current 270 84.9% of the
women presented with joint pain and stiffness followed by vaginal dryness 262 74.2% and hair changes 258 81.1%. Table:
01. While looking towards the attributes 246 77.4% of the women know or they heard about the process and physiology of
menopause and they were aware about the process among them 172 54.1% felt comfortable to discuss the phenomenon and
its related issues with their friends, fellows or peers. Majority of the participants were not taking the menopause as disease
happened at old ages 238 74.8% while 228 71.7% thought that it makes women fat. CONCLUSION:Women around the
world experience menopause differently due to a range of biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors that affect
their views, values, and attitudes around menopause. The present study clearly shows that postmenopausal symptoms and
other gynecological problems are very common in our study setting. Joint stiffness and pain were the most common
menopausal symptoms in our study group, followed by vaginal dryness and irritation. Women from both urban and rural
locations did not see menopause as an illness and had never thought to seek help from quacks or traditional healers when the
characteristics were compared to the race.