Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions towards menopause among highly educated Asian women in their midlife

Memon, Fouzia, Jonker, Leon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5867-4663 and Qazi, Roshan (2014) Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions towards menopause among highly educated Asian women in their midlife. Post Reproductive Health, 20 (4). pp. 138-142.

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Abstract

Objective: To determine knowledge levels, and attitudes and perceptions towards, menopause among highly educated Asian women in their midlife.

Study design: A cross-sectional survey.

Setting: Five teaching institutions in Hyderabad, Pakistan.

Population: In total, 200 out of 225 (89% response rate) teachers, lecturers and professors, aged 40–59 years, were surveyed in 2013 using a self-administered questionnaire.

Results: The mean age of responders was 48 years. Premenopausal and perimenopausal women attributed for 58%, whereas 42% were postmenopausal. All women had a masters degree; 15% had a PhD degree. Forty-six percent of responders thought they had sufficient knowledge about the menopause and 87% had positive perceptions about it, with 76% feeling life was easier and calmer as a result of it. Reported negative perceptions included 30% of women experiencing feelings of grumpiness, irritability, altered work capability and loss of femininity. Health professionals were an information resource. of 60% of cases, only 5% of participants knew about hormone replacement therapy and none knew about available alternative therapies.

Conclusion: Despite the fact that the majority of women felt well informed and exhibited a positive attitude towards menopause, a strong urge for more knowledge was expressed. Public health care systems should mobilize resources and take measures to improve women’s awareness and knowledge about menopause-related changes through a variety of educational tools and media, including the Internet. A recommendation would be for physicians to provide more information about menopausal symptoms and also therapies to alleviate these symptoms, regardless of the patient’s socioeconomic background.

Item Type:	Article
Journal / Publication Title:	Post Reproductive Health
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
ISSN:	2053-3705
Departments:	Academic Departments > Health, Psychology & Social Studies (HPSS)
Depositing User:	Anna Lupton
Date Deposited:	13 Jul 2017 14:38
Last Modified:	12 Jan 2024 13:16
URI:	https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/3100

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