© Kamla-Raj 2005 Anthropologist, 7(2): 111-113 (2005) Age at Menopause in Two Caste Group (Brahmins and Rajputs) From Rural Areas of Jammu Neeru Sharma, Sumati Vaid and Anju Manhas P.G. Department of Home Science, University of Jammu, Jammu 180 006, Jammu and Kashmir, India KEYWORDS Climacteric. Menstruation Ceases. Dogra ABSTRACT The present study was conducted to find the mean age at menopause in two different caste group i.e. Brahmins and Rajputs and to study the rituals, taboos, social restrictions, health problems, nutrition observed during the menopausal period. The sample for the research comprised of 50 Brahmin women and 50 Rajput women in the age group of 40-52 years from different rural areas of Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir State). Purposive sampling technique was used to select the sample. The tools used for study were recall method and interview schedule. The results reveals that the mean age of the Brahmin women were 47.90 +/- 0.051 and the Rajput women is 48.02 +/- 0.0689. Majority of the women were belonging to both the caste group faced weakness during menopause and they can do all the household work. There is no restrictions in eating, going for temples and performing her rituals. It was also found that after menopause there is no changes in the behavior of the women of both the caste group. The result showed that the ‘t’ value is significant therefore there is difference in the mean age of menopause between the two-caste groups. INTRODUCTION Menopause marks the end of reproductive span for a woman. For an Indian woman reproduction is very important. Giving birth to offsprings is the prime duty, and mothering the prime role of a woman. An Indian women’s identity is her motherhood (Prabhu, 1988). Cessation of the ability to become a mother is of a great loss to her womanhood. She considers herself as a useless object, if she cannot re- produce. Hence menopause is a marker of her worthlessness. Though there are still many women who believe in imposing restrictions at the time of monthly periods (Gupta, 1990). The belief of menstrual blood as impure still leads to imposition of restrictions in homes of Brahmins or Rajputs of Jammu (Gupta, 1990). Menopause marks the end of this monthly embarrassment and women usually say ‘Khalasi Muki’ (got rid of), ‘Sayapa Khatam’ (problem is over). The earlier the menopause, more relieved they are. Some also indulge into indigenous medicine systems for earlier cessation due to the embarrassment especially if their daughters are married and the son-in-law arrives at a time when mother-in-law is not supposed to enter the kitchen. Hence the women’s feelings about the menopause are mixed and culturally marked. The present research focuses on the age at menopause among Brahmins and Rajputs of Dogra community of Jammu region and the main purpose of the study were to find the mean age at menopause in two different castes i.e. Brahmins and Rajputs and also to study the cultural beliefs, social restrictions, health problems, nutrition during menopausal period. METHODOLOGY The sample of the study consists of 100 women who had experienced menopause were selected (50 women of Brahmin caste and 50 women of Rajput castes in the age group of 40- 52 years) from different rural areas of Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir State). Sample was drawn from among the middle socio economic strata. Recall method was used to obtain the age at menopause and interview schedule for gathering the information regarding the rituals, taboos, social restrictions, health problems, nutrition observed during the menopausal period. Analysis of the Data: The response obtained was coded, tabulated and percentages were drawn. Content analysis was done. Mean, Standard Deviation was also done. ‘t’ test is also used to know whether difference between two samples is small enough to accept the null hypothesis. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Table 1 reveals that the mean age at meno- pause among Brahmin women is 47.90 ± 0.051