Knowledge, Attitude and Associated Factors of Women Aged 30-49 Years Towards Menopause In Gulele Sub-City of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Date
2015-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Menopause is a process which typically occurs during the ages of 45 and 55
and is marked by a reduction in estrogen and progesterone levels and eventual cessation of
menstruation. Appropriate understanding of the menopausal phenomenon among women
regarding physical, mental, social and psychological changes that occur during menopause
will help women to cope with menopausal changes with greater readiness. Knowledge and
attitude of menopausal phenomenon are greatly influenced by social, cultural and
economic settings and may influence the method of treatment for menopausal symptoms.
In Ethiopia, health policies and programs give much emphasis on women's health
promotion but given less emphasis for menopause phenomena and few studies have been
conducted in the field of investigating women's knowledge and attitude towards
menopause and its associated factors.
Objective: The objective of this study was to assess level of knowledge and attitude of
women aged 30-49 years towards menopause in Gulele sub-city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
from April 26 to May 10, 2015.
Methods: A cross-sectional community based study was conducted on a sample of 586
mothers aged 30-49 years in Gulele sub-city of Addis Ababa Ethiopia using multi-stage
sampling method. Data on knowledge status of mothers regrinding menopause, attitude of
mothers towards menopause and other pertinent variables were collected using
interviewer-administered questionnaires. The gathered data analysis was done by the
software SPSS version 20. The association between knowledge, and attitude towards
menopause and the independent variables was investigated using binary logistic regression
model.
Results: The results of this study showed that the prevalence of natural menopause is 8.9
%. Out of 568 respondents 63.3% knew about the age of menopause and 72.2% knew
menopause occurs due to decrease in sexual hormones. Respondents, 68.3%, believed that
menopause is a usual and natural phenomenon in women’s life and 55.1% perceived
menopause as the beginning of the period of women’s disablement. Regarding the level of
knowledge, 15.7% had poor knowledge, 61.8% had moderate knowledge and 22.5% had
good knowledge. On the other hand, 84% of the women had a positive attitude towards
menopause. The study showed that there is a significant association between knowledge
about menopause and having information about menopause [Adjusted OR = 0.143 (95%CI:
0.073, 0.281)] and economic status [Adjusted OR = 0.369 (95%CI: 0.192, 0.710)]. There
is also a significant association between attitude and economic status (lower economic
status [Adjusted OR = 0.11 (95%CI: 0.044, 0.275)], and medium economic status
[Adjusted OR = 0.217 (95%CI: 0.085, 0.55)]), having information about menopause
[Adjusted OR = 0.143 (95%CI: 0.196, 0.566)] and age (30-34) group [Adjusted OR = 0.203
(95%CI: 0.089, 0.463)].
Conclusions and recommendations: knowledge and attitude of women's towards
menopause was found low and positive in this study respectively. The relationship between
knowledge and economic status; and the source of information was found to be significant.
There was also a significant association between attitude and economic status; the source
of information; and age. Federal Ministry of health, Addis Ababa Health bureau and the
mass media should disseminate appropriate information concerning menopause to raise the
knowledge of women. Health professional should manage menopause as one-phenomenon
rather than treating it as an individual symptoms.
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Keywords
Knowledge, Attitude, Women Aged 30-49 Years