Menopause Knowledge Levels of Women in the Climacteric Period and Their
Attitudes Towards Menopause
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to determine the menopausal awareness and
knowledge levels of women aged 40–65 in the climacteric period, and
examine the symptoms of menopause and the relationship with their
attitudes towards menopause. Method: Included in this study were 224
women, who applied to Obstetrics and Family Medicine outpatient clinics.
The Sociodemographic Information Form, Menopause Information and
Awareness Form, Menopause Attitude Assessment Scale (ATMS), and
Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) were applied to the participants. Results:
Of the participants, 71.0% had gone through menopause, whereas 21.0%
had not, and 8.0% did not know whether they had gone through menopause
or not. The mean age of the women who had gone through menopause was
47.79±4.5 years. While the mean ATMS score was 43.97±10.93, 37.9% of
the women had a negative attitude (40 points and below). The mean MRS
somatic complaint score was 6.43±3.74, the mean psychological complaint
score was 6.21±4.09, and the mean urogenital complaint score was
3.88±2.65. There was a moderately significant negative correlation
between their ATMS scores and their menopause-related psychological
complaints (r=–0.317, p<0.001). As their positive attitude
towards menopause increased, their psychological complaints decreased.
As their awareness of menopause increased, their psychological
complaints decreased. Conclusion: Increased awareness of menopause
provided a decrease in the psychological complaints of menopause. In the
study, it was seen that the attitudes of the women about menopause were
an effective variable in the emergence of menopause complaints.
Improving the attitudes of the women towards menopause is important in
reducing menopausal symptoms