Abstract

Introduction:
Women form the most important part of the family and society, and community health is dependent on the health status of the women.Menopause is biological event occurring in women that indicates the end of reproductive stage to non-reproductive stage.According to WHO, Natural menopause is defined as the permanent cessation of menstruation resulting from the cessation of ovarian follicular activity.
Objectives:
To observe epidemiological profile of post-menopausal women in urban and rural area.
To describe symptomatology of post-menopausal women.
Material &Methods:
A descriptive community based cross-sectional study conducted in the urban and rural field practice area of Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences, Karimnagar for period of 18 months (April 2018 - October 2019). 300 study participants were selected for the study. Women of age group 45-60 years, who attained natural menopause were included and Induced Menopause were excluded from the study.
Results:
Majority of the study population of menopausal women in rural area experienced vasomotor symptoms (65.3%), psychosocial symptoms (82%), physical symptoms (93.3%) and sexual symptoms (27.3%) compared to the menopausal women in urban area, who experienced vasomotor symptoms (52%), psychosocial symptoms (36%), physical symptoms (53.3%) and sexual symptoms (6%). Significant statistical difference was observed between the residing area with the vasomotor symptoms (p=0.01), psychosocial symptoms (p<0.001), physical symptoms (p<0.001) and sexual symptoms (p<0.001).
Conclusion:
Majority of the menopausal women experienced mild degree of vasomotor, psychosocial, physical, and sexual symptoms. Vasomotor symptoms were commonly observed in the initial duration after attaining menopause whereas psychosocial, physical, and sexual symptoms were common in the later stages of menopause.