Morbidity Patterns among Menopausal Women in Rural Uttar Pradesh, India: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVES: The quality of life declines gradually as women enter menopause, owing to the various problems associated with estrogen deficiency and aging, which adds to their morbidities. This study aimed to investigate the patterns of morbidity among rural menopausal women and compare the morbidity patterns among menopausal transition group and post-menopausal women. METHODS: This community-based cross-sectional study included menopausal women aged 45–55 years from rural areas of the Etawah district, Uttar Pradesh, India. To select blocks and villages of the district, multistage random sampling was performed. According to a pretested, semistructured schedule, data were collected through interviews. RESULTS: A total of 315 women participated in the study. The most frequent complaints among the participants were of feeling tired and worn out (85.1%) and of muscle and joint pains (67.6%). Poor memory (P = 0.046) and diabetes (P = 0.024) were more common in women who were in the menopause transition phase than in those who were in the postmenopausal phase. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that majority of the menopausal women suffered from physical problems. Lifestyle modification and awareness programs will be beneficial among women in menopausal transition, to reduce the morbidity later in post-menopausal stage. Behaviour change communication, family and community support are essential in post-menopausal women, to help them cope with various morbid conditions.