Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


osu1116611916.pdf (505.71 KB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Age at natural menopause and menopausal symptoms among Saudi Arabian women in Al-Khobar

Al-Sejari, Maha M
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1116611916

Abstract Details

2005, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Anthropology.
Menopause is a physiological event, experienced as a long process of climacteric change (transitional phase that is immediately prior to and after menopause, when clinical, biological, and endocrinological symptoms of menstrual cession commence), occurring universally in all women who reach midlife. The timing of menopause as well as women’s experience of menopausal symptoms varies between populations and within populations. The current study was conducted in 2003 among Saudi Arabian women in the city of Al-Khobar in the East of Saudi Arabia. In this cross-sectional study, a face-to-face questionnaire was administrated to 200 Bedouin and Hadar Saudi women, most of whom are housewives and members in women’s organizations and school staffs. Biocultural and lifespan perspectives were used to assess age at natural menopause and the prevalence of menopausal symptoms. This study examines the ways in which biological, sociodemographic, and cultural factors determine age at natural menopause and the prevalence of menopausal symptoms. The primary objectives of this research were: (1) to assess the mean and median age at menopause; (2) to detect factors that might contribute significantly to a more rapid decline in ovarian function; (3) to determine the factors that significantly affect the prevalence of menopausal symptoms that Saudi women’s experience; and (4) to assess the relationship between women’s perceptions and attitudes toward menopause and the menopausal symptoms that women experience. This study also examines the differences in women’s attitudes toward menopause, depending on whether these women were experiencing, or had already experienced natural menopause. The median age of the sample ranged from 40 to 55 years. The mean age at natural menopause among these Saudi women was 48.06 years and the median age was 49 years. The findings of this study indicated that while age at natural menopause varied within and among the menopausal factors (anthropometric measures, sociodemographic status, reproductive history, and lifestyle); the only factors that were significantly associated with age at menopause were women’s weight, marital status, and employment status. The findings also indicated that the respondents’ marital status and number of children were significantly associated with the prevalence of menopausal symptoms among the Saudi women.
Ivy Pike (Advisor)
227 p.
Anthropology, Physical
Menopause; Age at natural menopause; Menopausal symptoms; Theoretical pespectives on Menopause

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Al-Sejari, M. M. (2005). Age at natural menopause and menopausal symptoms among Saudi Arabian women in Al-Khobar [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1116611916

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Al-Sejari, Maha. Age at natural menopause and menopausal symptoms among Saudi Arabian women in Al-Khobar. 2005. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1116611916.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Al-Sejari, Maha. "Age at natural menopause and menopausal symptoms among Saudi Arabian women in Al-Khobar." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2005. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1116611916

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1116611916
4,886
© 2005, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.