Investigating the Prevalence and Severity of Menopausal Symptoms and Quality of Life in Peri-menopausal and Post-menopausal Palestinian Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

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. 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. 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. 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.