INTRODUCTION:

Background of study:

Menopause is a tough phase in a woman’s life; but she can make life as happy and productive as before by adjusting to the changes in her body. The transition from one phase to the next can be traumatic and involve a whole series of adjustments. The life becomes especially critical during the mid life and menopause years, during this 5 to 10 year period of a woman’s life, there is more possibility for change in all aspects of her health than at any time since adolescence.

Today, two out of three of the world’s 469 million women older than 50, already reside in developing countries. By 2020 three out of four will reside in developing countries, an absolute increase of 408 million. In 1900 the average life expectancy of the woman was 48.3 years, while menopause usually occurred at age 40-50 year. Although the life span has increased to 73.8 year for women. Respectively the women live their one third of life without sex hormone.

In Indialast 50 years of 20 century the population of older persons increased from 19.6 million to 77.6 million in 2000. In the next 50 years it expected to go up to 324 millions. In 2002, 8% of the older population was over 80 years of age and by 2050 this proportion is expected to go up 15%. As increased technology the mortality and morbidity are decreases and life expectancy increases, as we concern with women health, their menopausal problem has been continued.

Number of psychological symptoms that appear to be related to menopause, including irritability, lethargy or fatigue, depression, loss of libido, hot flashes, night sweats, menstrual irregularities, vaginal dryness, nervous tension, palpitations, headache, insomnia, lack of energy, and dizzy spells, sexual problems, difficulty in concentrating, insomnia and crying spells.

Hormonal Replacement Therapy in menopause

Estrogen replacement is helpful in stopping hot flashes and night sweats and in reversing atrophic vaginal changes. Perhaps most significantly, Hormonal Replacement Therapy may reduce the incidence of coronary artery disease, the leading cause of death in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVES:

1) To assess the knowledge about menopausal problem among menopausal women.

2) To find out the association of knowledge of menopausal problem among urban women with selected demographic variables.

HYPOTHSIS

H_1.There will be a significant knowledge about menopausal problems among urban women.

H_2.There will be a significant association between knowledge of women regarding menopausal problem with selected demographic variable.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Research approach and design:

A Non-Experimental Descriptive Survey Design was adopted to conduct the study.

Research setting of the study:

The study was conducted at Sector 3 Bhilai (Chhattisgarh).

Sample and sample technique:

Target population was women’s age group of 40 to above 55 years. 60 samples were studied. A non probability purposive sampling technique was used to select the sample.

Development of tool:

A structured interview schedule pertaining to knowledge regarding menopausal problem among urban women. The study was limited in the area of Physical problem, Psychological problem and Social problem.

Tool consisted of two parts: -

PART I- Socio-demographic variables of age, education, monthly income, type of family, cessation of menses, occupation and source of knowledge.

PART II- Structured interview schedule to assess Knowledge of women regarding menopausal problem.(30 questions)

Plan for data analysis:

The data was analyzed by using inferential statistical through percentage mean, Standard deviation, Chi Square (x²) test was used to find the relationship between knowledge of women regarding menopausal problem with selected demographic variable.

PRESENTATION OF DATA

Data analysis is done according to the objective of the study: -

SECTION-I This part deals with description of sample characteristics.

SECTION – II This section divided into to parts.

SECTION A.-Distribution of subjects based on level of knowledge regarding menopausal problems.

SECTION B.- Distribution of subject based on various area of knowledge regarding menopausal problems.

SECTION –III This part deals association between the demographic variable with knowledge.

SECTION –IV This section deals with Level of knowledge of subject on various Socio-demographic variables.

MAJOR FINDINGS OF THE STUDY

The major findings of the study are summarized as follows:-

Finding related to socio-demographic data:-

Majority of the women belonged to age group 45-55 years (48.33%). Maximum number 25 (41.66) of women had educational level of primary to middle school level. Maximum 34 (56.66%) women belonged to monthly income group Rs. 5000-10,000. 35 (58.33%) were from Nuclear family and 25 (41.66%) were from joint family. Majority of women 22 (36.66%) had cessation of menses between 4-6 years. 52 (86.66%) women were housewife, 8 (13.33%) were working. Maximum 32 (53.33%) women’s source of knowledge was friends and family.

Findings related to the association of knowledge with socio demographic data:-

Age, education, cessation of menses, occupation and source of knowledge have significant association with knowledge regarding menopausal problems. Monthly income and types of the family of women had no significant association with knowledge

Findings related to knowledge level of women:-

50% women had good knowledge while 50% women had average knowledge in 60 samples, nobody had poor knowledge. The highest mean score was 24.26 for women of 40-45 years of Age, 26.16 for Graduate and postgraduate, 23.05 for monthly income group Rs 5000-10,000, 23 nuclear family , 24 women having duration of cessation of menses less than 2 years, 24.75 for working women, 25.22 women source of knowledge regarding menopausal problem was both (Media and Family, Friends).

Mean percentage score on various areas of knowledge like Physical problem, Psychological problem and, Social problem were 74.22% 82.03%, 34.44% respectively.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

· This study can be replicated with a different population on a large sample thereby generalizing the study for a larger population.

· Study may be conducted in different community.

· A comparative study can be conducted to assess the peri menopausal problems and post menopausal problems among women.

· Study may be conducted to assess the knowledge and attitude of women regarding menopause and hormonal replacement therapy.

· Study may be conducted to find out the effectiveness of information booklet on Menopausal Problem and its management, among urban and rural women

DISCUSSION:

50% women had good knowledge while 50% women had average knowledge in 60 samples, nobody had poor knowledge. Age, education, cessation of menses, occupation and source of knowledge have significant association with knowledge regarding menopausal problems. Monthly income and types of the family of women had no significant association with knowledge. Mean percentage score on various areas of knowledge like Physical problem, Psychological problem and, Social problem were 74.22%, 82.03%, 34.44%, respectively.

REFERENCES:

1. Mrs. Ganadari Angela. Managing Menopause Health Action. January 1999; 28.

2. Sharma K.L., Indian Journal Of Gerontology A Quarterly Journal Devoted to Research on Aging (On Line) 2006; 20 (3)

3. Wallis L.A, Susan C. Fox, Text Book of Women’s Health, Lippincott Paven Publishers, Philadelphia 1998; 117-123.

4. Olds, London, Ladewig, A Family and Community Based Approach , Women’s Health throughout the Life Span . Sixth Edition ; 58-60

5. Lyla Bavadam A Silent Syndrome. (Cited 2006 Nov) Available from http://www.hinduonnet.com/ fine/f11607/16071190.htm.

6. Van Keep Pa : Editorial note, Mathritas 1997; (1) :2-7

7. Kinlay Mc and Sivakami 2003 Journal of Clinical Epidemiology; 1989, 42 :1031-1039.

Received on 03.05.2012 Modified on 14.05.2012

Asian J. Nur. Edu. & Research 2(2): April-June 2012; Page 87-89