ABSTRACT
Background: In every women life this unique physiological phase that is menopause take place. In developing countries like in India most of women neglected their basic health care which poses the major public health challenges. The objectives of the study were to assess the knowledge, attitude towards menopause and its associated factors among postmenopausal women of urban slum; to explore the treatment seeking behaviour and the barriers for not seeking health care among these post-menopausal women.Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted using multistage cluster sampling and house to house visit in randomly selected slums under the UHTC area of KIMS, Bhubaneswar. A pretested and predesigned questionnaire was used among 220 postmenopausal women.Results: The results of the study show that 60.9% of women have a heard about menopause before attaining menopause but 33.1% women attitude towards menopause is negative. Only 10% of study population were aware of HRT that it treats menopausal symptoms. We found that the awareness of cancer cervix was 19.1% but the screening was done only by 2.7% of study population.Conclusions: There is considerably lack of knowledge and awareness about the effects and the treatment of menopausal symptoms especially in rural and slum women in India. So, such studies help in creating awareness since disseminating health education for postmenopausal women is of prime importance.
ABSTRACT
Background: Access to menstrual hygiene resources is a basic human and healthcare right. A substantial number of women in rural areas and urban slums do not use sanitary napkins due to its prohibitive cost and difficult access, leading to consequences like infections and the subsequent morbidity, school absenteeism and decreased social participation. The study explored the reasons for non-usage of sanitary napkins in an urban slum of Delhi. It was further studied if there would be a high acceptance if low-cost product was made available at health-centre.Methods: A cross-sectional study was done to assess the magnitude and reasons for not using sanitary napkins and acceptability of low-priced sanitary napkins provided through RHTC.Results: Most women (47%) do not use sanitary napkins because its price was perceived as high as against the benefit that can be accrued. Difficult in access to product purchase was the second important reason for non-usage. A low-priced sanitary napkin provided through RHTC was an acceptable solution to them.Conclusions: Increasing the accessibility of affordable sanitary napkins through health centers can increase in usage of sanitary napkins.