Hassan, M., Mahfouz, A., Dabbous, N., Loutfy, I. (2004). Canonical Correlation Analysis of the Determinants of Menopausal Symptoms. Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 34(3), 661-680. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2004.187662
Mona HA. Hassan; Ahmed A. Mahfouz; Nehad I. Dabbous; Ibrahim Loutfy. "Canonical Correlation Analysis of the Determinants of Menopausal Symptoms". Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 34, 3, 2004, 661-680. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2004.187662
Hassan, M., Mahfouz, A., Dabbous, N., Loutfy, I. (2004). 'Canonical Correlation Analysis of the Determinants of Menopausal Symptoms', Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 34(3), pp. 661-680. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2004.187662
Hassan, M., Mahfouz, A., Dabbous, N., Loutfy, I. Canonical Correlation Analysis of the Determinants of Menopausal Symptoms. Journal of High Institute of Public Health, 2004; 34(3): 661-680. doi: 10.21608/jhiph.2004.187662
Canonical Correlation Analysis of the Determinants of Menopausal Symptoms
1Assistant Professor of Biostatistics, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt
2Professor of Epidemiology, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt
3Professor of Family Health, High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt
4Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt
Abstract
Objectives: To describe the intensity and determinants of symptoms commonly attributed to the menopause among a random sample of women aged 50 to 59 years, selected from the total population of geographically defined area. Design: Data were collected based on a cross-sectional design using structured questionnaire and face-to-face interview survey. Setting: Households. Participants: Four hundred and fifty women, aged 50 to 59 years, randomly selected from Alexandria residents by the method of cluster sampling. Main outcome measures: Self-reported symptoms, factor scores for menopausal symptoms extracted by factor analysis, and an index for the number of experienced symptoms. Results: 77.5% of currently married women and 80.3% of unmarried women reported moderate-to-severe symptoms with significant difference between the two groups in intensity of vasomotor [more intense among married], psychological and miscellaneous [more intense among unmarried]. Canonical correlation revealed seven significant roots among married women explaining 82.2% of variance in menopausal symptoms and four among the unmarried explaining 57.5% of variance. Among married women, the prominent factors in relation to menopausal symptoms are duration of hormone use, obesity, knowledge and attitude concerning menopause, pattern of menopause, and physical activity. Among the unmarried, there were also correlations of menopausal symptoms with same factors in addition to work, education, and time since last menses. Conclusion: Through menopause is a natural biological process, it has been shaped by social, economic, medical, and reproductive factors. Putting these factors in mind of health care workers can help women to go through this passage of life with no or minimal discomfort.