Women's Practices during Menopause: Instructional Guidelines for Better Coping

Abstract

Aim: was two folds to: A. explore women's coping practices with menopausal symptoms through: (a) Recognizing women's symptoms associated with menopause, (b) Assessing women’s knowledge regarding menopause, (c) Identifying women's health related coping practices during menopause, and to develop instructional guidelines for women as a model for better coping with menopause. Subjects and Methods: A convenient sample of total 190 menopausal women, aged <40 to >50 years was selected from three maternal and child health centers and three health centers representing different Urban districts in Cairo. Home visits in the same areas were conducted. Tools: Three tools were used for data collection :(1) Interviewing questionnaire format (2) Lifestyle Behavior Scale, and (3) Coping Patterns scale. Results: Findings indicated that the MW always had hot flushes (44.2%), irregular heart beats and joints and muscles pain had same percentages (41.1%). 56.8 % of them had night sweating. feeling tired and anxiety represented 65.8 % and 57.9%, respectively. A high statistically significant correlation was found between women's health related practice and coping patterns with the MS and vice versa, and highly statistically significant correlation between women' education & income and their coping pattern. While, a statistically significant correlation was existed between age and coping pattern. However, Meanwhile, highly statistical significant correlation existed between women' knowledge related to menopause their coping with menopause. Conclusion: The most common symptoms among MW include hot flushes, muscle and joint pain, sweating and irregular heart beats, besides obesity (grade I), in addition to feeling tired, anxiety and fear from future. MS affected most of the subjects' marital relationships and sexual relations. The MW were able to adapt/ manage the physical symptoms efficiently, while they failed in relieving psychological & sexual symptoms, and reducing weight. Lack of menopause related knowledge, sources of health education and increased women's tolerance towards adaptation for any complain decreased the women's tendency to express suffering. Recommendation: The CHNs should do the followings in all community health settings: Encourage MW to perform periodical examination. Carry out related health education/counseling sessions including coping strategies. Freely distribute the developed instructional guidelines to all MW. Utilize officially a T.V. channel and broadcasting as a mass media, associated with real life examples. Encourage women in coping and helping family members to become supportive with MW through home visiting / outreach services, beside update and sharpen her knowledge through On-Job-Training programs and others.