Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Nursing - Department of Maternal and Newborn Health Nursing

Background: Loss of ovarian function at menopause and associated decreases in circulating estradiol affects nearly every organ in woman's body. Aim: To assess menopausal problems and preventive health behaviors among menopausal at El- Mansoura City. Setting: Meniat El-Naser general hospital which affiliated to El- Mansoura City. Subject and methods: Convenience sample of 200 menopausal women were recruited in this study based on certain inclusion criteria. Design: A descriptive research design was adopted for this study. Tool: Structured interviewing questionnaire was used to collect the needed data. This tool included four sub-sections: a): demographic data and obstetrical profile; b) Menopausal problems c) women knowledge about menopause and d) preventive health behavior. Results: Findings of the current study revealed that the study subjects were complaining of the most common reported physical, psychological, vasomotor, genitourinary and social problems as joint pain (93.5%), mood disturbance (80.5%), hot flushes (77.5%), vaginal dryness (42.5%), and easy to cry (67.5%). Moreover, about one third (36.5%) of studied women had poor knowledge score regarding concept of menopause and nearly three-quarters (74.1%) of them were taking dietary supplementation rich in calcium as a preventive behavior to alleviate joint pain, and about one third (37.2%) of them were communicating with the family members to express their feelings related to change in mood as this preventive behavior was effective as reported by 83.3%, while, about half (49%) them mentioned that discussing previous experience with others as a method to alleviate and or cope with anxiety or stress, they found it was ineffective to resolve this problem. Regarding alleviating vasomotor symptoms, slightly less than half (48.4%) of them were taking shower as a preventive behavior to alleviate hot flushes and it was effective (70.7%). Using vaginal cream to alleviate vaginal dryness as a preventive behavior was effective as reported by (37.5%) of themsal transition and the proper ways to alleviate these problems

Issued also as CD