Prevalence of Perimenopausal Depression among Women of Kummayak Rural Municipality, Panchthar: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study

Abstract

Introduction: Perimenopause, which means "around menopause" is the period of time when our body naturally transitions to menopause, signalling the end of reproductive years. It results from the loss of follicular activity. Perimenopausal depression is a unique subtype of depression, with characteristic causes and symptoms that are distinct from other depression. This study aimed to find out the prevalence of perimenopausal depression in women in Kummayak Rural Municipality, Panchthar, Nepal.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in Kummayak Rural Municipality, Panchthar after the ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee. Convenient sampling was used from which 302 women of age group 40-55 years were selected. A structured questionnaire (Meno-D tools) and interview technique were used for data collection. Collected data were entered, analyzed, and interpreted using SPSS version 20.

Results: We found out that the prevalence of perimenopausal depression was 42.1%, which was mostly concentrated among the age group of 40-45 years (45%).

Conclusions: Almost half of the women in the perimenopausal period suffered from depression. Perimenopause is a vulnerable time for women. Therefore, it is important to pay close attention to the signs and symptoms of depression in order to thrive a more productive life.