Changing Focus: Women's Perimenopausal Journey

'They should come forward with the information': menopause-related health literacy and health care experiences among Vietnamese-born women in Melbourne, Australia

Objectives: Health literacy refers to an individual's capacity to access, understand, evaluate and use health information to make well informed health-related decision to maintain and promote optimal health. Low health literacy is linked with worse health outcomes and is more common in people from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds and from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and among people with limited education. Peri-menopausal and postmenopausal health behaviour predicts health in later life. This qualitative study was conducted in Melbourne, Australia. The aim of this study was to explore menopause-related health literacy and experiences with menopause-related health care among Vietnamese-born women who had immigrated to Australia as adults.Design: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews was conducted with women aged between 45 and 60 years and who were either in the peri or postmenopausal phase. Transcripts were analysed thematically.Results: A total of 12 women were interviewed. Participants viewed menopause as a natural event and obtained most of their menopause-related information from family and friends. Limited English language proficiency affected their capacity to access, understand, evaluate and use menopause-related health information. They identified their Vietnamese speaking General Practitioners (GPs) as a reliable source of health information, but 'shyness' prevented them from asking questions about menopause and they suggested that GPs need to initiate menopause-related health conversations.Conclusion: Low menopause-related health literacy among Vietnamese-born immigrant women may limit their opportunities to access information about and benefit from menopause-related health-promoting behaviours. Access to menopause-related health information in relevant community languages is essential to support immigrant women to make well informed menopause-related health decisions.

Women's experience and attitudes towards menopause and health: descriptive research

Introduction: The physiological changes in hormonal levels occurring during perimenopause and postmenopause may affect the health of women. The purpose of the research was to explore the views and attitudes of women of this stage towards menopause, health, healthy lifestyle and some aspects of information regarding menopause. Methods: The study was based on a quantitative and qualitative approach. A semi-structured questionnaire (Cronbach α = 0.813) was used as a research instrument. The open question was interpreted by a qualitative method. A random systematic sample consisted of one hundred female patients, aged 45 to 60 years, attending a private healthcare institution. The survey was conducted in October 2014. The data collected were processed with the software Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 20.0. Results: The self-reported health status of the respondents was good (57.3 %) or very good (22.3 %). The most commonly cited symptoms included hot flushes and night sweats (x̅ = 2.73), sleep problems (x̅ = 2.8), and mental and physical exhaustion (x̅ = 2.70). Information from nurses was never sought by 57.6 % and occasionally by 9.8 % of the respondents, although the interviewees expressed the need for more comprehensive information on the subject. The identified subcategories include a positive attitude and self-confidence, support of the environment, consumer health information and healthy lifestyle. Discussion and conclusion: The research participants have a positive attitude to health, they are aware that there is much they can do to maintain and improve their health. As they also expressed the need to be better informed, the scope of nurses' work in referential out-patient clinics may be extended to menopausal counselling. However, more research on this topic needs to be undertaken.

Sex life and role identity in Taiwanese women during menopause: a qualitative study

AIM

Our goal was to examine Taiwanese women's perspectives on the way menopause affected their sexual behaviour to gain an in-depth understanding of their experiences during this transition.

BACKGROUND

Physical symptoms associated with menopause may affect women's sexual experiences. Little is known about how menopause-related changes in sexual behaviour may affect role identity of women living in a modernizing urban culture that is still strongly rooted in traditional beliefs and attitudes.

DESIGN

This was a qualitative study involving face-to-face interviews using open-ended questions.

METHODS

During 2011-2012, eighteen peri or postmenopausal women visiting a medical clinic for gynaecological examinations or treatment were interviewed about their sexual experiences. Responses were analysed for common themes.

FINDINGS

Four themes were identified about the effects of menopause on women's sex life: (1) changes in physical responses during sex; (2) the acceptance/non-acceptance of the current situation; (3) sexual pressure related to their marital role; (4) efforts to improve sexual interest or activity. Menopause-related physical changes often (but not always) made sexual interactions difficult. But women's responses to the changes varied. Some used sexual discomfort as a reason to avoid sexual intercourse. Others sought to improve their sexual encounters through behavioural modifications or hormone therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the variety of reactions to the impact of menopause on sexual behaviour/relationships seen here, it is clear that health professionals need to assess of each woman's specific situation and be prepared to recommend a variety of behavioural or hormonal treatment options.

Voices from the Hilo Women's Health Study: talking story about menopause

Our purpose in conducting this qualitative study was to examine how a multiethnic sample of women living in Hilo, Hawai'i, describe menopause. Interviews were conducted with 185 pre-, peri-, and post-menopausal women aged 45 to 55. We found that pre-menopausal women felt anxious compared with peri- and post-menopausal women's more affirmative attitudes of increasing confidence and freedom in this new cycle of life. A dominant theme was the construction of a post-menstrual identity. Peri-and post-menopausal women's attitudes were not biomedically oriented. Local culture and the island lifestyle may provide a positive atmosphere for women going through menopause.