Menopausal Symptoms In Urban Versus Rural Women Aged Above 40 Years in Central India: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Menopause is a critical period in a woman’s life that not only marks the end of reproductive ability but is also associated with multiple physical, vasomotor, psychological, and sexual complaints.

Aim & objective: To compare menopausal symptoms among urban and rural women aged above 40 years using Menopausal Rating scale.

Materials & methods: A community based cross sectional study was carried out in urban and rural Field practice area of Government Medical College, Nagpur. This study included 180 women from both urban and rural area of age above 40 years and menopausal symptoms were assessed using Menopausal Rating Scale.

Result: The most prevalent symptom reported among urban & rural women was joint & muscular discomfort i.e. 140(77.8%) & 121(67.2%). Significantly higher proportions of urban women have moderate to severe scores for somatic and psychological domains like joint & muscular discomfort, sleep problem, irritability, physical & mental exhaustion whereas higher proportion of rural women have urogenital symptoms.

Conclusions: Higher proportions of women are suffering from menopausal symptoms with variation in prevalent symptoms among urban & rural women.