[Knowledge and experiences of women [40-60years] about menopause in Yasouj city]

ABSTRACT

In women who haven't any knowledge about physiological changes; menopause can make anxiety for them. Successful adaptation of women with menopause changes is severely dependent on their perception of physiological events of this period, therefore this study has been carried out in order to recognize the knowledge and experience of women about menopause. This is a descriptive study which has been done in yasouj city in the year 1381 on 350 women [40-60 years]. Data collecting device was interviewing questionnaire consisting of three demographic characteristics. knowledge and experiences parts of before, during and after menopause and was completed by direct referring to the samples homes and asking questions and them data was analyzed by SPSS software. Mean age of cases was 48.8 and 58.4% of them were illiterate, 83.6%married, 62.4% of the women were in pre-menopause ages and 80.6% didn't use hormone therapy. The most experienced physical changes were respectively, hot flashing [21.9%], Menstrual disturbances [21.1%], psychological changes like insomnia [20.8%] and hopelessness [20.3%]. Among from postmenopausal changes, urine frequency was experienced more than other symptoms. With score 0-24, mean score of knowledge about menopause was 15.7 and the most of cases had average knowledge. There were significant relationships between women knowledge and age, education, marital status menstrual situation and knowledge resources about menopause. The results of this study indicated that low percents of women use hormone therapy and considering their low education and knowledge about treatment of some menopausal problems and weak role of health staff as knowledge resources about menopause, women training by health centers are necessary