Sociodemographic Data and the Relationship with the Climacteric Symptomatology - Paraiba, Northeast of Brazil

The climacteric is a natural phenomenon of the female physiology, experienced as a silent period or followed by symptoms. Objectives: Identifying sociodemographic data and their influence on climacteric change; determining the prevalence of climacteric symptoms. Method: A cross-sectional study conducted in the city of Cajazeiras, Paraiba, between January 2013 and March 2014, interviewing 390 climacteric women, through structured script. The factors associated with climacteric symptoms were identified by linear regression analysis (95%). Results: The average age of the surveyed was 49.17 years old. The intensity of climacteric symptoms was associated to: the menopausal age ( p = 0.048, CI: 0.001 to 0.149) and education ( p = 0.003, CI: -0.254 to -0.051); being the most prevalent: 84.4% nervousness, arthralgia 78.2% and 76.4% sadness. Conclusion: Due to insufficient socioeconomic status and the high prevalence of menopausal symptoms, we see the need for qualified and humanized care through a comprehensive and individualized care in order to improve the women’s quality of life.