Khadija Kahlout; Aymen Elsous; Aseel Alshorafa; Mariam Ghazal; Rima Yaghi; Ezat Askari
Abstract
Background: Menopause is accompanied with symptoms that could be bothersome to the point that quality of life can be affected. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence and severity of menopausal symptoms and quality of life among women in their peri- and post-menopausal phase.Methods: This quantitative ...
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Background: Menopause is accompanied with symptoms that could be bothersome to the point that quality of life can be affected. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence and severity of menopausal symptoms and quality of life among women in their peri- and post-menopausal phase.Methods: This quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted from February to August 2022 on 332 peri-menopausal (n=162) and post-menopausal (n=170) women aged 45-55 years. They were recruited from the women who visited primary health centers in the East Gaza governorate using convenience sampling. The menopausal rating scale and a validated Arabic World Health Organization Quality of life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) were used. Descriptive and inferential analysis were applied and P<0.05 was considered as the level of statistical significance.Results: The mean (SD) of the Menopausal Rating Scale (MRS) score was 2.27±0.49 vs 1.90±0.55 in the post-menopausal and peri-menopausal women, respectively. The most prevalent symptom was joint and muscle problems in peri-menopause (45.7%) and post-menopause (67.6%). The mean score of Quality of Life (QoL) dimensions, namely physical, social, environmental, and psychological domains was lower among the post-menopausal women compared to that among the peri-menopausal ones (3.19±0.73 vs 3.44±0.80, 3.46±0.72 vs 3.62±0.71, 3.50±0.60 vs 3.52±0.62, and 3.59±0.75 vs 3.68±0.77, respectively). Quality of life as well as the associated physical and social aspects were found to be significantly associated with menopausal symptoms (P=0.003 and P=0.048, respectively). Age (51–55 years; P<0.001), marital status (widowed/divorced; P=0.044), income (<300USD; P<0.001), and post-menopausal status (P<0.001) were significantly associated with severity of menopausal symptoms.Conclusions: Menopausal symptoms are common in the post-menopausal status. Their severity was found to increase as menopause status progressed. Psychological symptoms were the most severe symptoms reflecting the need for proper psychological supporting efforts. Menopausal symptoms with severe manifestations impair the quality of life and are associated with socio-demographic and clinical variables.
Aymen Elsous; Dina El-oka; Fadwa Abo-Namos; Amna Jnead; Eslam Abo-Ajwa
Abstract
Background: Causes of maternal deaths could be prevented if women are aware of maternity danger signs. We aimed to examine women’s awareness about obstetric danger signs and associated factors among females attending primary health facilities in Gaza strip, Palestine.Methods: A cross-sectional ...
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Background: Causes of maternal deaths could be prevented if women are aware of maternity danger signs. We aimed to examine women’s awareness about obstetric danger signs and associated factors among females attending primary health facilities in Gaza strip, Palestine.Methods: A cross-sectional clinic-based study was employed. An interview-based questionnaire, prepared after a review of literature, comprises two parts: socio-demographic and Obst/Gyn information and second awareness about obstetric danger signs during pregnancy, delivery, and after delivery was administered to 185 women between September and mid of November, 2020. Descriptive analysis (mean, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) was employed. Moreover, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were applied to determine independent factors related to women knowledge.Results: One hundred thirty-eight (138) women participated. The mean age was 26.3±6.1 years and 76.1% were married for less than 10 years. Women had adequate knowledge about obstetric danger signs during pregnancy, childbirth, and post-partum (82.6%, 71%, and 68.1% respectively). Common danger signs reported were blurred vision, severe headache, convulsion, and severe vaginal bleeding. One third of women relied on more than two sources of information regarding danger signs and 90.6% thought that danger signs lead to death. Independent factors related to the knowledge about obstetric danger signs are being literate (OR: 2.46; CI95%: 1.77–6.23), previous maternal health problem (OR: 2.4; CI95%: 1.67–5.93), utilization of ante-natal care services (OR 2.21; CI95%: 1.72–4.02), and parity (OR: 3.6; CI95%: 1.48–5.64).Conclusion: Women have an adequate level of awareness about obstetric danger signs; however, it is quite less in post-partum. Efforts should be made to target knowledge deficit about danger signs in post-partum and to reduce the stress resulted from these danger signs.
