Opinions and main sources of information about menopause among middle-aged Brazilian women

Author(s)

de Arruda Amaral, Isabel Cristina Gardenal ^[1] ; Baccaro, Luiz Francisco ^[1] ; Lui-Filho, Jeffrey Frederico ^[1] ; Osis, Maria Jose Duarte ^[1] ; Pedro, Adriana Orcesi ^[1] ; Costa-Paiva, Lucia ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Campinas UNICAMP, Dept Obstet & Gynecol, Rua Alexander Fleming 101, BR-13083881 Campinas, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: MENOPAUSE-THE JOURNAL OF THE NORTH AMERICAN MENOPAUSE SOCIETY; v. 26, n. 10, p. 1154-1159, OCT 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate women's opinions about menopause and the sources of information they use to deepen their understanding of the topic. Methods: Population-based study with 749 Brazilian women aged 45 to 60 years. The answers to the question ``What is menopause?{''} were typed and coded, and categories that emerged from the interviewees' own speech were created. The answers to the question: ``Where or from whom did you get information about menopause?{''} were also analyzed. Results: The mean age of women was 52.5 (+/- 4.4) years. Of them, 68% were postmenopausal. According to 67.5% of the interviewees, the concept of menopause encompassed changes in the menstrual cycle and hormones. For 48%, menopause meant physical changes such as ``hot flushes and vaginal dryness.{''} For 22.7%, menopause represented psychological changes. The concept of menopause was associated with some change in sexuality for 7.6% of the interviewees. Approximately 18% could not explain what menopause meant. Regarding the sources of information, 44.5% of the women attributed this knowledge to friends and relatives. Doctors or health services were mentioned by 44.3% of women. Television or radio was cited by 22.0%; magazines, newspapers, or books were cited by 14.0%; and the Internet was cited by 6.8% of women. Fifty-two women (6.9%) reported having no source of information about menopause. Conclusions: Most of the interviewees relate the term ``menopause{''} to physiological events. There seems to be a suppressed demand for information on the various aspects of the menopausal transition among middle-aged Brazilian women. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/14526-9 - Domiciliary population-based study of menopause in women residing in the metropolitan area of Campinas
• Grantee: Aarao Mendes Pinto Neto
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants