Abstract

RIVAS ALPIZAR, Elodia et al. Biological and Social Factors Related to Women’s Health during Climateric. Medisur [online]. 2011, vol.9, n.6, pp. 523-529. ISSN 1727-897X.

Background: the life of women, being extended to 30 years after menopause, undergoes an environmental impact that overlaps the clinical expression of the cessation of reproductive function. This increases the need to provide, at this stage, a comprehensive care. Objective: To identify some biological and social factors related to women’s health during climateric. Methods: Descriptive and cross sectional study conducted in 307 women from 40 to 59 years old in the Area III Polyclinic of Cienfuegos, from January to December 2006. Through household interviews, a form that allowed collecting general, clinical and medical support information was filled. Results: 56.3% of women experienced mild climacteric syndrome, circulatory (77.2%) and psychological (60%) symptoms being the most referred ones. The average age of menopause onset was between 47 and 51 years old. It appeared earlier in smokers. The age of menarche, the number of pregnancies and births and menstrual patterns were not related to the age of menopause onset. 44% of women were hypertensive, 41.4% were pre-obese and 100% were sedentary. 81.8% of them did not seek for medical support. Hormonal therapy was prescribed for 32.1% of patients. Conclusions: Despite the risk factors and the chronic diseases that were detected, women interviewed did not seek for medical support, even when they presented discomfort to some extent. This was caused by the lack of information on this stage of life and the inexistence of specialized multidisciplinary consultations in Primary Health Care.

Keywords : climateric; women’s health; biological factors; social conditions; medical care.