According to a comprehensive analysis published in the journal BMJ Global Health, approximately one in fourteen women aged 30 to 49 living in low and middle-income countries experiences early menopause.
Scope and Methodology of the Study
Researchers warned that this condition could create a growing burden on already strained healthcare systems. The work was conducted by scientists from the International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research in Bangladesh. The analysis covered data from 716,648 women across 44 low and middle-income countries, including India, Indonesia, Gabon, and Jordan. According to PTI, nearly 365,000 women from India were included in the study.
Classification and Prevalence
Menopause typically occurs in women between the ages of 45 and 55. Menopause occurring before age 45 is classified as early, while onset before age 40 is considered premature menopause. Researchers found that the overall prevalence of premature or early menopause exceeds seven percent, meaning over 51,000 women in the study faced this issue. The highest percentage was recorded among women aged 40 to 44, at about 14 percent.
Geographical Differences and Risk Factors
The highest frequency by country was noted in Ethiopia (12 percent), followed by Indonesia (11.5 percent) and Myanmar (over 10 percent). The lowest rate was registered in Jordan (just over two percent), as well as in Gabon and Armenia, where it was almost three percent. It was also found that early menopause is more common in rural areas than in urban areas in all analyzed countries. However, the risk significantly decreases with higher levels of education and delayed childbearing.
Socioeconomic Aspects
Most surveyed women lived in rural areas (62 percent). Furthermore, 38 percent married before the age of 18, and 21 percent gave birth to their first child before adulthood. More than half of the women had three or more children. The authors warn that these results indicate a growing public health problem against the backdrop of aging populations in low and middle-income countries.
Pressure on Healthcare Systems
Researchers emphasized that as the population of these countries rapidly ages, and women spend more time in postmenopausal status, the prevalence of this condition represents a significant and increasing burden on healthcare systems that are already constrained by competing priorities and insufficient resources. They also noted that the data reflects broader inequalities affecting women's health, including issues with access to medical care, nutritional status, educational opportunities, and occupational risks, as many women in the studied countries engage in manual labor and are exposed to industrial hazards.
Health Consequences
Early and premature menopause is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, metabolic disorders, cognitive decline, depression, and premature death, and it significantly affects quality of life. Additionally, a study published in The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Women's Health in June reported that women in South Asia have a 34 percent higher risk of premature menopause compared to European women, with half of them reaching menopause by 47.4 years of age.