Exploring the problems faced by menopausal women and the impact of family support during menopausal transition in Pinarayi Panchayat, Kerala: A qualitative study
Abstract
The perimenopause marks the start of the phase of change from the reproductive to the non reproductive cycle. Despite the fact that it is regarded as a normal life transition, new studies have shown that issues and family support may have an impact on the quality of her life. Nearly all studies looked at the frequency, familiarity, and awareness of menopausal symptoms, but they did not show the issues women are dealing with during the perimenopausal stage. This study aimed to explore the biopsychosocial problems and family support on menopausal transition among menopausal women. A qualitative research approach was adopted for the study. Sample comprised of 20 menopausal women obtain through purposive sampling technique who fulfilled sampling criteria. By using interview guide in depth interview were conducted among sample till the data saturation occurs. Thematic analysis revealed that biopsychosocial problems are there in their transition period and the lack of family support during menopausal transition period totally affecting their subjective well being. This focus on importance of health promotion strategies especially in middle aged women. Its an urgent need of motivating them continuously with an educational program regarding the perimenopause and the life style modifications to be done to prevent cardiovascular diseases as well as osteoporosis which was quiet common for women after 60’s now a days.
References
Sherman S. Defining the menopausal transition. The American Journal of Medicine. 2005 Dec;118(12):3–7.
Currie H, Moger SJ. Menopause – Understanding the impact on women and their partners. Post Reprod Health. 2019 Dec 1;25(4):183–90.
D Herbert, R J Bell ,K Young, H Brown, J Y Coles, S R Davis . Australian women’s understanding of menopause and its consequences: a qualitative study. Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society [Internet]. 2020 Dec [cited 2022 Nov 3];23(6). Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32705886/
Joseph LA, Varghese AP. Prevalence of menopausal symptoms and perceptions about menopause among postmenopausal women attending Gynaecology OPD at GMC Idukki, India. International Journal of Reproduction, Contraception, Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2017 Jan 31;6(2):413–6.
Ghazanfarpour M, Khadivzadeh T, LatifnejadRoudsari R, Mehdi Hazavehei SM. Obstacles to the discussion of sexual problems in menopausal women: a qualitative study of healthcare providers. J ObstetGynaecol. 2017 Jul;37(5):660–6.
Normality, Freedom, and Distress: Listening to the Menopausal Experiences of Indian Women of Haryana | SpringerLink [Internet]. [cited 2022 Nov 3]. Available from: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-981-15-0614-7_70
Kalhan M, Singhania K, Choudhary P, Verma S, Kaushal P, Singh T. Prevalence of Menopausal Symptoms and its Effect on Quality of Life among Rural Middle Aged Women (40–60 Years) of Haryana, India. International Journal of Applied and Basic Medical Research. 2020 Sep;10(3):183–8.
Madhukumar S, Gaikwad V. A Community Based Study on Perceptions about Menopausal Symptoms and Quality of Life of Post Menopausal Women in Bangalore Rural. International Journal of Health Sciences. 2012;(3):8
Quiroga A, Larroy C, González-Castro P. Climacteric symptoms and their relation to feminine self-concept. Climacteric. 2017 Jun;20(3):274–9.
Leventhal H, Leventhal EA, Contrada RJ. Self-regulation, health, and behavior: A perceptual-cognitive approach. Psychology & Health. 1998 Jul 1;13(4):717–33.
Pimenta F, Ramos MM, Silva CC, Costa PA, Maroco J, Leal I. Self-regulation model applied to menopause: a mixed-methods study. Climacteric. 2020 Feb;23(1):84–92.
Mohamad Ishak NN, Jamani NA, Mohd Arifin SR, Abdul Hadi A, Abd Aziz KH. Exploring women’s perceptions and experiences of menopause among East Coast Malaysian women. Malays Fam Physician. 2021 Feb 1;16(1):84–92.
Powell RA, Single HM. Focus Groups. Int J Qual Health Care. 1996;8(5):499–504.
Qualitative Research: A Guide to Design and Implementation, 4th Edition | Wiley [Internet]. Wiley.com. [cited 2022 Nov 4]. Available from: https://www.wiley.com/en-
us/Qualitative+Research%3A+A+Guide+to+Design+and+Implementation%2C+4th+ dition-p-9781119003618
Dworkin SL. Sample size policy for qualitative studies using in-depth interviews. Arch Sex Behav. 2012 Dec;41(6):1319–20.
Braun V, Clarke V. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology. 2006 Jan 1;3(2):77–101.
Ilankoon IMPS, Samarasinghe K, Elgán C. Menopause is a natural stage of aging: a qualitative study. BMC Women’s Health. 2021 Feb 1;21(1):47.
Li L, Wu J, Pu D, Zhao Y, Wan C, Sun L, et al. Factors associated with the age of natural menopause and menopausal symptoms in Chinese women. Maturitas. 2012 Dec;73(4):354–60.
Chuni N, Sreeramareddy CT. Frequency of symptoms, determinants of severe symptoms, validity of and cut-off score for Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) as a screening tool: a cross-sectional survey among midlife Nepalese women. BMC Womens Health. 2011 Jun 14;11:30.
Rahman SASA, Zainudin SR, Mun VLK. Assessment of menopausal symptoms using modified Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) among middle age women in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Asia Pac Fam Med. 2010 Feb 22;9(1):5.
Zhao D, Liu C, Feng X, Hou F, Xu X, Li P. Menopausal symptoms in different substages of perimenopause and their relationships with social support and resilience. Menopause. 2019 Mar;26(3):233–9.
Refaei M, Mardanpour S, Masoumi Z, Parsa P. Women’s experiences in the transition to menopause: a qualitative research. BMC Women’s Health. 2022 Feb 26;22.
