Menopausal Symptoms: Knowledge and Perception of Women in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria
Keywords:
Menopause, Knowledge, PerceptionAbstract
Menopause is a natural biological process characterized by hot flushes. Emotional symptoms and their likes. It is an inevitable milestone in the reproductive cycle of a woman. This study investigated the level of knowledge and perception of Nigerian women with menopausal symptoms. The study was carried out using a four sectioned structured questionnaire served to menopausal women in Jos South and North local government areas of Plateau state. Out of the 190 women who participated in the survey, 52.6% of them were between the ages of 40-49, while 47.4% of them were above 50. 9.5% were single, 47.4% – married, 16.3% – divorced, 26.8% – widowed. 55% of them have had less than 5-year menopausal experience. All were mothers but for 18 (9.5%). 23.7% of them were employed, 76.3% were either unemployed, farming, or businesswomen. Among them, 10% had no formal education while 64.7% lived in the urban region compared to 33.7% who had knowledge of menopausal symptoms. It was observed that 40% had sudden menopause, 36.3% had recurrent amenorrhea and 20% had recurrent bleeding. 26.8% managed their symptoms with multivitamins, 20% relied on phototherapy, 36.8% had food and 16.3% did nothing about their symptoms. 59.5% had fruits and vegetables as their main meals, while 40.5% fed on roasted meals, dairy products, proteins, and starch. Majority of them were physical active with just 13.7% being sedentary. Over 50% were aware that diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis and cancers are associated with menopause. After interaction with the women, their awareness of how to manage menopausal symptoms was enhanced and this would establish and emphasize the responsibilities of pharmacists in reproductive healthcare.
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