Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2002;24(7):441-446
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032002000700003
Purpose: to evaluate the reproductive aspects in climacteric women of the Family Health Program in Cuiabá. Methods: it was a cross-sectional study including 354 women, with ages between 40 and 65 years, attended at the Central-Western District Family Health Program of Cuiabá. A pretested questionnaire with specific questions regarding the present study was used. Data were analyzed using the Z test and chi² test for trend. The mean age of the 354 women was 49.7±7 years and the median 48 years. A total of 243 (68.6%) were born in Mato Grosso, and the others were migrants from different states. Most were married (65.8%), white (48.0%), catholic (73.4%), and had low schooling: 62.4% did not finish the elementary school and 19.2% were illiterate. About 84% were occupied only in domestic activities, and more than a half (58.2%) belonged to a lower social class. Results: the average number of pregnancies was 5.4±3.3. Nearly 5% were nulliparous and 7% had more than ten children. Almost 50% had the first pregnancy in adolescence and 14% after the age of 40 years. A total of 229 women (65%) were submitted to pelvic surgery: 78% to tubal sterilization, 20% to hysterectomy, and 7% to bilateral oophorectomy. Menopause was due to hysterectomy/oophorectomy in 25% of the women. Conclusion: almost 65% of the women were submitted to a pelvic surgery. The most frequent surgery was tubal sterilization followed by total hysterectomy.