Assessment Of Quality Of Life In Menopausal Housewives

Background and need for research : Menopause represents a natural biological transition that occurs when menstrual cycles permanently cease, most often between the ages of 45 and 55, due to reduced ovarian hormone secretion. During this stage, many women experience symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, mood swings, memory lapses and musculoskeletal pain, which can negatively influence their quality of life. According to the World Health Organization (1996), quality of life is defined as ‘an individual’s perception of their position in life, in the context of the culture and value system in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns.’ Housewives, who often carry the primary responsibility for domestic duties, child-rearing and caregiving, may find these roles increasingly challenging when coping with menopausal symptoms such as fatigue, irritability and physical discomfort. Method: This was a cross sectional observational study on Menopausal housewives selected as per the selection criteria. 151 participants were included in study. The subjects were explained the procedure and purpose of study. Data was collected using outcome measure (MEN-QOL questionnaire). Result: The physical domain was most affected (mean = 4.98 ± SD), followed by the vasomotor domain (mean = 3.02 ± SD), psychosocial domain (mean = 1.94 ± SD) and the sexual domain was least affected (mean = 0.98 ± SD). Fatigue, joint pain and sleep disturbances were the most common physical symptoms, whereas sexual symptoms were rarely reported. Conclusion: The present study concludes that physical and vasomotor symptoms significantly impair the quality of life in menopausal housewives, while psychosocial and sexual domains are comparatively less affected.