Behavioral pattern of menopausal Nigeria women

Abstract

Context: Menopause is one area that has been shrouded in myths and taboos and the way women perceive menopause depends largely on the social belief about menopause in their society. Objective: The aims of this study are to assess how women perceived the physical changes during menopause, what the social as well as the individual adjustment practice to menopausal changes might be. Materials and Methods: Qualitative focal group study among women aged 40 years and above where eight to ten volunteers formed a group. Six sessions were held for different focal group, each lasting 1-2 h. A tape recorder and a notepad were used to record the discussions. Opinions of the women were sought on socio-cultural differences in the perception of aging, perception of menstruation, perceived causes and consequences of menopause, sexual intercourse after menopause, social support networks for menopausal women, and types of care and treatment for women in menopause. Results: The participants in the FGDs used various phrases to describe menopause in local term; while some of the participants attributed disease to be a cause of menopause, others believed that it be could be caused by witchcraft or sorcery. However, younger and old women whose menstrual flow stops prematurely seek assistance, often from traditional or spiritual healers. Conclusion: This study reveals the poor menopausal knowledge among the study group with more than half of the respondents having negative attitude towards menopause in addition to mixed feelings about religious obligation and cohabitation.

El significado de la menopausia para un grupo de mujeres chilenas atendidas en el sistema público de salud

“…En general, la percepción de las mujeres participantes es contradictoria respecto de la literatura que da cuenta de los aspectos positivos que las mujeres identifican de esta etapa postmenopáusica como libertad, madurez, mayor sabiduría, posibilidad de desarrollo personal, mayor tiempo para sí mismas 19,25,27,29,31,32 .…”

Influence of Perceived Family Functioning on Depression among Postmenopausal Women in Nigeria

“…[15] Depression here refers to "the state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and sense of well-being". [16] It is characterized by feelings of sadness, anxiety, emptiness, hopelessness, worthlessness, guilt, irritability, shame or restlessness. [17], [18] Other characteristics of depression include loss of interest in activities that were once pleasurable, loss of appetite or over eating, problems with concentrating, remembering things in detail, or making decisions, committing suicide or attempts to committing suicide, insomnia, excessive sleeping, fatigue, aches, pains, digestion problems and/or reduced energy.…”

“…Presently, in Nigeria, women have higher life expectancy than men. [16] This means that women in their postmenopausal period make up a majority of the elderly population. However, little is known about issues relating to the menopause in Nigeria, [16] and the mental health of these women in particular.…”

“…[16] This means that women in their postmenopausal period make up a majority of the elderly population. However, little is known about issues relating to the menopause in Nigeria, [16] and the mental health of these women in particular. For instance, there is virtually no data on the pattern and severity of depressive illnesses among post-menopausal women, the association of family function and depression, and on social and demographic determinants of depressive illnesses among the study population.…”

“…[1], [29] Menopause has often been believed to contribute to the onset of depression in the midlife, and researches have reported higher prevalence of depressive disorders and symptoms in women as compared to men, a difference that has been distinguished using population studies, hospital admissions, suicide attempts and the prescription of anti-depressant medication. [16], [31], [32] Depression in post-menopausal women however remains an important public health problem that requires urgent attention. [28], [33] Depression in the elderly is a prevailing problem of public concern that is causing huge economic costs and family burdens.…”