TITLE:
Menopause-Related Symptoms and Help Seeking Behavior among Women Attended at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangladesh
AUTHORS:
Rumi Farhad Ara, Md. Jahangir Alam, Md. Abdullah Yusuf
KEYWORDS:
Menopause, Symptoms, Help Seeking Behavior
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.8 No.4,
April
19,
2018
ABSTRACT: Background: Women have experienced different menopause-related
symptoms. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to see the menopause-related
symptoms and help seeking behavior among the women attended at a tertiary care
hospital. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the
outpatient Department of Kushtia Medical College Hospital, Kushtia, Bangladesh
from October 2015 to September 2016 for a period of one (01) year. Menopausal
women who were attended in the outpatient Department of Hospital were included
as study population. The eligible women had at least one year of amenorrhoea.
Surgical menopause or due to severe illness, extreme weight loss endocrine
disorders or radio therapy were excluded. Each subject completed a
questionnaire that elicited their sociodemographic information, personal and
family history and current medical problems. Result: A total number of 437
women were recruited for this study. The most prevalent menopausal symptom
among the participants was generalized body ache 91.30%. Followed by low back
pain 88.55%, muscle & joint pain 87.18%, tiredness 86.04%, hot flush
64.30%, urinary symptoms 43.93%, vaginal dryness 48.28%, insomnia 73.91%,
irritability 23.56%. Most of the participants consulted at first with village
doctors (63.15%) followed by general practitioners 20.82% due to their health
problems. Some sought help from traditional healers like kobiraj 3.20%. Conclusion: In conclusion, body ache, low back pain, muscle and joint pain and
tiredness are the most commonly reported menopause-related symptoms that are
mostly consulted with village doctors.