Climacteric complaints among very low-income women from a tropical region of Brazil
Keywords:
Climacteric, Social class, Hot flashes, Culture, Tropical climateAbstract
CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Climacteric symp- toms may vary between different countries and cultures. Socioeconomic factors and climate may be implicated. The aim of this study was to identify climacteric symptomatology among very low-income Brazilian women, living in a hot and humid region. DESIGN AND SETTING: This cross-sectional population-based study was conducted in Cuiabá, at Júlio Müller University Hospital, a tertiary institution. METHODS: The study enrolled 354 climacteric women. The variables analyzed were social class, symptomatology and abnormal concurent conditions. The study was approved by the hospital’s research ethics committee. RESULTS: Sixty-five percent of the participants (232/354) were very poor and had had little schooling. The number of symptoms per woman was 8.0 ± 5.7. Hot flushes, nervousness, forget- fulness and fatigue were each found in nearly 60.0%. Tearfulness, depression, melancholy and insomnia were also frequent. Sexual problems were reported by 25%. The most relevant concur- rent abnormal conditions reported were hyperten- sion (33.9%), obesity (26.5%), arthritis/arthrosis (15.0%) and diabetes mellitus (9.6%). Hot flushes were associated with tearfulness, nervousness and forgetfulness. CONCLUSION: Brazilian climacteric women of low income and low schooling present mul- tiple symptoms. Vasomotor and psychosexual symptoms were the most prevalent disorders. Hot flushes were associated with nervousness, forgetfulness and tearfulness.
Downloads
References
Medeiros SF, Oliveira VN, Yamamoto MMW. Epidemiologia clínica do climatério. [Clinical epidemiology of climacteric]. Reprod Clim. 2003;18:79-86.
Obermeyer CM. Menopause across cultures: a review of the evidence. Menopause. 2000;7(3):184-92.
Lock M, Kaufert P, Gilbert P. Cultural construction of the menopausal syndrome: the Japanese case. Maturitas. 1988;10(4):317-32.
Martin MC, Block JE, Sanchez SD, Arnaud CD, Beyene Y. Menopause without symptoms: the endocrinology of meno- pause among rural Mayan Indians. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1993;168(6 Pt 1):1839-43; discussion 1843-5.
Baracat EC, Bortoletto CCR, Nunes MG, et al. Síndrome do climatério: aspectos epidemiológicos. GO. 1995;4(5)27:30.
Halbe HW, Fonseca AM, Assis JS, et al. Aspectos epidemiologi- cos e clinicos em 1.319 pacientes climatericas. [Epidemiological and clinical findings in 1319 pos-menopausal woman]. Rev Ginecol Obstet. 1990;1(3):182-94.
Berg G, Gottwall M, Hammar M, Lindgren R. Climacteric symptoms among women aged 60-62 in Linköping, Sweden, in 1986. Maturitas. 1988;10(3):193-9.
Stenberg A, Heimer G, Ulmesten U, Cnattingius S. Prevalence of genitourinary and other climacteric symptoms in 61-year-old women. Maturitas. 1996;24(1-2):31-6.
Barlow DH, Samsioe G, van Geelen JM. A study of European womens’ experience of the problems of urogenital ageing and its management. Maturitas. 1997;27(3):239-47.
Ouslander JG. Geriatric urinary incontinence. Dis Mon. 1992;38(2):65-149.
De Pelegrin GCL, Novaczyk AA, Winck CHL, Piovezan CM. Avaliação dos sintomas clínicos das pacientes climatéricas aten- didas no HUSM em relação ao uso de terapia de reposição hor- monal e índice de massa corpórea. Reprod Clim. 1997;12(supl. 1):24. [abstract]. Presented at: Congresso Brasileiro de Clima- tério & Menopausa 3 and Congresso Brasileiro de Ginecologia Endócrina 1. Porto Alegre, Jun 18-21, 1997.
Katz DL. Sample size, randomization, and probability theory. In: Katz DL, editor. Epidemiology biostatistics and preventive medicine review. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1997. p. 97-105.
The North American Society. Menopause Health Questionnaire. Available from URL: http://www.menopause.org/edumaterials/pquestionnaire.htm. Accessed in 2006 (May 15).
Mattar FN. Análise crítica dos estudos de estratificação sócio- econômica de ABA-Abipeme. Revista de Admininstração. 1995;30(1):57-74. Disponível em: http://www.fauze.com.br/artigo10.htm. Accessed in 2006 (Jul 13).
Deurenberg P, Yap M. The assessment of obesity: methods for measuring body fat and global prevalence of obesity. Baillieres Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1999;13(1):1-11.
Blumel JE, Brandt A, Tacla X. Perfil sintomatico de la mujer climaterica. Experiencia clinica. [Symptomatic profile of the climacteric female. Clinical experience. Rev Med Chil. 1992;120(9):1017-21.
Blumel MJE, Roncagliolo MME, Gramegna Sougarret GM, Tacla FX, Sepúlveda MH, Brandt Alvear A. Prevalência de síntomas psiquicos y vasomotores en diferentes periodos del climaterio. [Prevalence of vasomotores and psychic symptoms in different periods of the climateric. Rev Chil Obstet Ginecol. 1997;62(6):412-8.
Wasti S, Robinson SC, Akthar Y, Khan S, Badaruddin N. Characteristics of menopause in three socioeconomic urban groups in Karachi, Pakistan. Maturitas. 1993;16(1):61-9.
Whiteman MK, Staropoli CA, Benedict JC, Borgeest C, Flaws JA. Risk factors for hot flashes in midlife women. J Women Health (Larchmt). 2003;12(5):459-72.
Boulet MJ, Oddens BJ, Lehert P, Vemer HM, Visser A. Cli- macteric and menopause in seven South-east Asian countries. Maturitas. 1994;19(3):157-76.
Cassol G, Silva PB, Pinto CS, et al. Avaliação da depressão no cli- matério utilizando a escala de Zung. Reprod Clim. 1997;12(suppl 1):25. [abstract]. Presented at: Congresso Brasileiro de Climatério & Menopausa 3 and Congresso Brasileiro de Ginecologia Endó- crina 1. Porto Alegre, Jun 18-21, 1997.
Almeida AB, Almeida SB, Rechden CL, Marques AL, Nervo CC. Incidência dos sintomas das pacientes do ambulatório de climatério da ISCMPA. Reprod Clim. 1997;12(supl. 1):35. [abstract]. Presented at: Congresso Brasileiro de Climatério & Menopausa 3 and Congresso Brasileiro de Ginecologia Endócrina 1. Porto Alegre, Jun 18-21, 1997.
Liu P, He FF, Bai WP, et al. Menopausal depression: comparison of hormone replacement therapy and hormone replacement therapy plus fluoxetine. Chin Med J (Engl). 2004;117(2):189-94.
Hunter M, Battersby R, Whitehead M. Relationships between psychological symptoms, somatic complaints and menopausal status. Maturitas. 1986;8(3):217-28.
Hunter MS. Predictors of menopausal symptoms: psychosocial aspects. Baillieres Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1992;7(1):33-45.
Bachmann GA. Influence of menopause on sexuality. Int J Fertil Menopausal Stud. 1995;40(Suppl 1):16-22.
Freeman EW, Sammel MD, Lin H, Gracia CR, Kapoor S, Ferdousi T. The role of anxiety and hormonal changes in menopausal hot flashes. Menopause. 2005;12(3):258-66.
Binfa L, Castelo-Branco C, Blumel JE, et al. Influence of psycho-social factors on climacteric symptoms. Maturitas. 2004;48(4):425-31.
