MENOPAUSE: WOMEN’S HEALTH PROFILE AND HEALTH CARE NEEDS

OBJECTIVES: To determine women’s health profile, attitude as well as, their health care needs toward menopausal transition. DESIGN: A descriptive cross sectional study based on sample of convenience. METHODOLOGY: one hundred peri- or menopausal women, low risky, and over 35 years were interviewed to collect the data. The study was conducted in the gynecological out patient department of MCH center at Amr Ebin El-ass center from 1st April to July 2002. RESULTS: The age range of the women from 35- 52 years, the mean age of menarche was 12.9 + 1.3 years old. Thirty-six of women were illiterate vs. 22% had received university education, 54% were working and 46% housewives. Forty-three of women knew about menopause, 39% were aware of symptomatology, and 7% knew squeal of menopause while only 4% knew about treatment of menopause. Fifty-three of women were satisfied with cessation of menstruation and only 17% desired to continue menstruation as well as, 24% were unhappy with menopausal status. Fifty-seven of women felt a need for health education of menopause from health centers and mass media (57% vs. 39% respectively) 20% needed medical examination and 9% medical consultation .CONCLUSION : Women have different views about menopause, few see it as a medical condition requiring treatment while, others consider it as a natural transition. There was lack of knowledge regarding significance of menopause.