Women’s Knowledge of Concept of Menopause, Severity, and Climacteric Stage Among Women in Middle Age in Northwest Ethiopia: Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Ayenew Asteray , Yechale Mastewal , Nigussie Azezu , Ayalew Nigusu 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background: Menopause is the physical, hormonal, psychological, biological events in women menstruation ceases as their age turns to 50’s. It is an inevitable part of life in the reproductive life of every women. an appropriate understanding of women about menopause that certain physical, social, mental, and psychological changes occur during menopause and helps them with greater readiness to cope with these changes, to seek medical attention, and other healthy behaviors like exercise, taking vitamins and mineral as supplement. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess rural women’s knowledge of concept of menopause, severity, and climacteric stage among women aged 40-65 years in Northwest, Ethiopia Methods: Community-based cross-sectional study design was employed from March 6 to 30/ 2020 in Motta district. Simple random sampling was used for the required sample size. The Data was collected by using structured, pre-tested, and interviewer-administered questionnaires and entered in to Epi data version 3.1 then exported to Statistical Package for Social Science version 25 for analysis. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression was employed and variables with p-value < 0.05 with 95% confidence interval were identified as significant factors to the outcome variable. Results: the women’s knowledge of concept of menopause only 23.3%. The mean age of study participants were 50.98 ±7.89 years with the majority have no formal education and poor wealth index. The most prevalent types of menopausal symptoms reported were muscular weakness (79%) while hot flash (76.9%) and decrease sexual desire (52%) were also prevalent. Moreover, each of the menopausal symptoms were higher among postmenopausal women compared to perimenopause and premonopuse women. Women self-reported differing severity levels of symptoms with high severity reported in 19.1% of total MRS and 9.1% had a moderate score of menopausal symptoms. Urban dwellers [AOR =2.07, 95%CI=(1.12, 3.81)], college and above educational status [AOR=4.01,95%CI =(1.39, 11.54)], Women with rich wealth index [AOR= 5.98, 95%CI= (3.01, 11.87)], women had information about menopausal symptoms [AOR=3.76, 95%CI= (1.86, 7.59)], history of contraceptive use [AOR=3.26, 95%CI= (1.94, 5.48)], and severe score of menopausal symptoms [AOR=2.22, 95%CI=(1.17, 4.19)] were factors significantly associated with knowledge of menopausal symptoms among women aged 40 – 65 years.Conclusion: The knowledge of women regarding menopausal was low. Residency, educational status, wealth index, received information about menopausal symptoms, history of contraceptive use, and menopausal severity score was significantly associated with knowledge of menopause. Thus, to increase knowledge of women on menopause, health education programs need to be integrated in to menopausal health within the health care system. Additionally, it is better to focus on postreproductive health of the women as during reproductive period to ensure the well beings of the women in postreproductive life. Moreover, community based education regardless of the severity of menopause including rural women is recommended. Integrating the menopausal health services with other maternal health services, and empowering women on education is essential for better improving women’s health.