Knowledge of Post - Menopausal Syndrome among Menopausal Women

 

Israel Jeba¹, Arti Devi²

¹Assistant Professor, Bee Enn College of Nursing, Jammu

²Nursing Tutor, Bee Enn College of Nursing, Jammu

 

ABSTRACT:

Introduction : The term menopause simply refers to the last menstrual period which is defined by not having had a period in 12 months. Although a technical definition of menopause refers to your last period, it is not an abrupt event but a gradual process. The cessation of menstrual cycles at the end of a woman's reproductive period is termed as menopause. Menopause before age 45 is considered premature in industrialized countries. The age of menopause is largely a result of genetics; however, illnesses, certain surgeries, or medical treatments may cause menopause to occur earlier.

Methodology : In this pre-experimental study, 60 menopausal women in the age group of 45-55 years were selected as the samples for the study by using non-probability purposive sampling. The data was collected by using structured questionnaire on post-menopausal symptoms. Data analysis were performed by descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. SPSS-17 software was used and P values less than 0.05 were considered significant.

Result: In the pre- test [mean =6.2 ,SD= .879], majority of the menopausal women had inadequate knowledge regarding post – menopausal syndrome and in the post test [mean= 12.15, SD=1.022], majority of the menopausal women had moderate knowledge regarding post – menopausal syndrome.

Discussion: The result shows that there was improvement in knowledge regarding post – menopausal syndrome after implementation of structured teaching programme on post – menopausal syndrome  which was calculated at 0.05 level of significance. So, it is  concluded that the structured teaching programme on post – menopausal syndrome  was effective to improve the knowledge of post - menopausal women.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION :

Women's health refers to health issues specific to human female anatomy. These often relate to structures such as female genitalia and breasts or to conditions caused by hormones specific to, or most notable in, females. Women's health issues include menstruation, contraception, maternal health, child birth, menopause and breast cancer.

 

They can also include medical situations in which women face problems not directly related to their biology, for example gender-differentiated access to medical treatment.

 

One of the most important stages in woman’s life is Menopause. Menopause is the permanent shutting down of the female reproductive system, a considerable length of time before the end of life span.

 

The word menopause literally means the end of monthly cessation from the Greek word pausis (cessation) and the root word men (9 month), because the word menopause was created to describe the change in human females, where the end of fertility indicated by the permanent stopping of monthly mensturation.

 

The term menopause simply refers to the last menstrual period which is defined by not having had a period in 12 months. Although a technical definition of menopause refers to your last period, it is not an abrupt event but a gradual process. The average age of menopause in the western world is 51 years while as in India it is 44.3 years and the normal age range for the occurrence of menopause is somewhat between the age of 45 and 55. A natural or physiological menopause is that which occurs as a part of a woman’s normal aging process.

 

The cessation of menstrual cycles at the end of a woman's reproductive period is termed as menopause. Menopause before age 45 is considered premature in Industrialized countries.

 

The age of menopause is largely a result of genetics; however, illnesses, certain surgeries, or medical treatments may cause menopause to occur earlier. Some health and medical research advocates, particularly the Society for Women's Health Research in the United States, define women's health more broadly than issues specific to human female anatomy to include areas where biological sex differences between women and men exist.

 

MATERIAL AND METHODS:                    

The methodology of research indicates the general pattern for organizing the procedure for gathering valid and reliable data for an investigation. In this present study a “Quantitative research approach” was used. The research design selected for this study was “pre-experimental  one group pretest - posttest design”. Structured teaching programme on post-menopausal syndrome was independent variable, knowledge of menopausal women was dependent variable and age, religion, residential place, type of family, education status, occupation, dietary pattern and marital status of menopausal women were demographic variables. The present study was conducted at Keran village, Jammu. And the accessible population was Women will be present at the age of 45-55 years at the time of data collection and fulfills the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Non- Probability purposive sampling technique was used to select the sample of 60 menopausal women. The women who were Between 45-55 years Willing to participate Women available at the time of data collection Women who are able to read and write Hindi and the women who were not willing to participate in the study women who were under social stigmas not present at the time of data collection women who are having any visual and hearing disability were excluded from study. Structured knowledge questionnaire on post – menopausal syndrome was used to assess the knowledge of menopausal women regarding post – menopausal syndrome. Content validity of the tool was made and necessary modifications were made according to the expert’s opinion and tool was finalized.

 

Ethical approval to conduct the study was obtained from sarpanch of Keran village, Jammui. Written informed consent was obtained from the study subjects regarding their willingness to participate in the research project. Demographic variables were collected by using interview technique and privacy was provided. Ethical principles were adhered too throughout the study. After selecting the sample, researcher introduced himself and explained the purpose of the study to the menopausal women. For experimental group in the pre -test, demographic variable and structured questionnaire was collected. After that teaching on post-menopausal syndrome was taught to the menopausal women. After teaching, the post - test level of knowledge was assessed. According to the objectives the data was organized, tabulated. The data was analyzed by using both descriptive and inferential statistics i.e. Frequency, Percentage, Mean and Standard deviation, Paired “ t “ test.

 

RESULT:

Demographic  Variables Description:

Demographic variables  were  age, religion, residential place, type of family, education status, occupation, dietary pattern and marital status of menopausal women.

 

Table-1: Distribution of Menopausal Women Based on Their Demographic Variables Such as Age, Religion, Residential Place and Type of Family N=60  

S. No	Demographic Variables	Number	Percentage
1.	Age {yrs.}: a.  40-45 b.   46-50 c.  51-55	20 20 20	33.33 25 33.33
2.	Religion:- a)Hindu b)Sikh c)Muslim d)Christian	45 7 6 2	75 11.66 10 3.33
3.	Residential place: a) Rural b) Urban	600 0	100 0
4.	Type of family:- a)Nuclear b) Joint c) Extended	40 20 0	66.66 33.33 0
5.	Education status                             a) Fifth                        b) Matric                        c) Twelfth d)Graduate	25 35 20 0	15 58.33 33.33 0
6.	Occupation: a) Non-working                 b) Working	50 10	83.33 16.66
7.	Dietary pattern:  a) Vegetarian                        b)Non-vegetarian	40 20	66.66 33.33
8.	Marital status: a)Single                           b) Married                                c) Widow	0 57 03	0 95 5

 

Table-2 Pre Test And Post Test Level of Knowledge On Post Menopausal Symptoms Among Menopausal Women. N=60

Group	Mean	Sd	‘ t’ test value
Pre-test	6.20	0 .879	*47.800
Post-test	12.15	1.022

*Significant at 0.05 level

 

The above reveal that the obtained “t” value was found to be highly significant at the level of p<0.05. It is inferred that the post-menopausal women exposed to the structured teaching programme had significant increase in post-test knowledge.

 

Figure - 1 Distribution of Level of Pre and Post Test Knowledge Regarding Post Menopausal Syndrome Among Menopausal Women

 

The above figure reveal that 40(67%) menopausal women had inadequate knowledge and 20 (33%) women had moderate knowledge on post -menopausal syndromes in pre-test. In post - test 17(28%) women had adequate knowledge and 43(71%) women had moderate knowledge regarding post - menopausal syndromes.

 

DISCUSSION:

The study was conducted using a pre-experimental design subject were selected by purposive sampling method. The sample size was 60.

 

The first objective of the study was to assess pre-test knowledge of selected area women regarding post menopausal women during menopause:

The level of knowledge on post menopausal syndrome during menopause before structured teaching program among women in Keran village  none of them were   adequate and 20   (33.33% )   was moderate level of knowledge and 40(66.660 )   was inadequate. The pre-test knowledge [mean =6.2 ,SD= .879] , the investigator feels that by assessing the existing knowledge we can identify their previous exposure regarding post menopausal syndrome during menopause.

 

The second objective of the study was to assess the post test the level of knowledge regarding post menopausal syndrome during menopause among village women:

The post test level of knowledge revealed village women 17 [28.33 ] had adequate knowledge and 43    [ 71.66] had moderately adequate knowledge. The post test knowledge [mean= 12.15, SD=1.022] shows that structured teaching program as effective. It was observed that structured teaching program plays a vital role in improving level of knowledge of village women.

 

Even though there was remarkable improvement in level of knowledge after the teaching program, the investigator was not able to achieve 100 of knowledge in all aspects; It may be due to their lack of interest and previous exposure to post menopausal syndrome during menopause. The investigator feels that by giving effective planned teaching program with appropriate A.V aids can improve their level of knowledge regarding menopause.

 

CONCLUSION:

The following conclusions were drawn from the study i.e. the structured Teaching Programme was an effective strategy in improving the knowledge of menopausal women regarding post-menopausal syndrome.

 

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Received on 22.03.2017           Modified on 11.07.2017

Accepted on 18.08.2017         © A&V Publications all right reserved