Attribution of menopause symptoms in human immunodeficiency virus-infected or at-risk drug-using women.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and attribution of menopausal symptoms.


METHODS
Peri- and postmenopausal women participating in a prospective study of HIV-infected and at-risk midlife women (the Ms. Study) were interviewed to determine whether they experienced hot flashes and/or vaginal dryness and to what they attributed these symptoms.


RESULTS
Of 278 women, 70% were perimenopausal; 54% were HIV-infected; and 52% had used crack, cocaine, heroin, and/or methadone within the past 5 years. Hot flashes were reported by 189 women and vaginal dryness was reported by 101 women. Overall, 69.8% attributed hot flashes to menopause and 28.7% attributed vaginal dryness to menopause. In bivariate analyses, age 45 years and older was associated with attributing hot flashes and vaginal dryness to menopause, and postmenopausal status and at least 12 years of education were associated with attributing vaginal dryness to menopause, but HIV status was not associated with attribution to menopause. In multivariate analysis, significant interactions between age and menopause status were found for both attribution of hot flashes (P=0.019) and vaginal dryness (P=0.029). Among perimenopausal women, older age was independently associated with attribution to menopause for hot flashes (adjusted odds ratio=1.2, 95% CI: 1.1-1.4, P=0.001) and vaginal dryness (adjusted odds ratio=1.3, 95% CI: 1.1-1.6, P=0.011). None of the tested factors were independently associated with attribution to menopause among postmenopausal women.


CONCLUSIONS
Tailored health education programs may be beneficial in increasing the knowledge about menopause among HIV-infected and drug-using women, particularly those who are perimenopausal.
Johnson
Tonya M
TM
Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA.
Cohen
Hillel W
HW
Howard
Andrea A
AA
Santoro
Nanette
N
Floris-Moore
Michelle
M
Arnsten
Julia H
JH
Hartel
Diana M
DM
Schoenbaum
Ellie E
EE
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D047648:Perimenopause / Q000523:psychology*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000523:psychology*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous