The characterization of hot flashes among women in Campeche, Mexico

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Hot flashes are associated with the hormonal changes of menopause; however, hot flash frequencies vary across populations. Variation may be due to differences in physiology or symptom perception/report. Past investigations suggested very low hot flash frequencies among Mayan women. In preparation for a cross-sectional investigation of menopausal symptoms, in-depth interviews were conducted with 60 women aged 37 to 63 years (mean 47.7 years) to understand how Mayan and Mestizo women experience and talk about hot flashes. Participants were recruited from the city of Campeche (n 5 19) and 3 rural pueblos (n 5 41); 53% spoke Maya. Interviews were guided by 20 open-ended questions including, Are you familiar with bochornos o calores (hot flashes)? A body diagram supplemented hot flash descriptions. Women reported low levels of education (mean 6.7 years, s.d. 5.3), and 0 to 12 children (mean 3.8, s.d. 2.8). Almost 100% of the sample had access to health services or at least information about menopause; 76% lived with a husband. Forty-three percent were post-menopausal, including 3 with a history of hysterectomy, and mean recalled age at natural menopause was 47.1 (s.d. 3.9, n 5 23). Forty-five percent had experienced hot flashes recently; an additional 22% had experienced hot flashes in the past. Women attributed hot flashes to the hot climate, going in and out of air conditioning, eating chiles, emotional stress, high blood pressure, ''nervios,'' and physical exertion, as well as to the menopausal transition. In conclusion, studies of reported hot flashes may be eliciting responses beyond the heat dissipation attributed to hormonal change. eng

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