Diri E Gloria and Ighedose O Lucky*

Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author: Ighedose O Lucky, Department of Planning, Research and Statistics, Federal Medical Centre Yenagoa, Baylesa State, Nigeria.

Received: May 02, 2024; Published: June 11, 2024

Abstract

Background: Menopause is a universal phenomenon among women. It is a phase that signals a woman being through with her reproduction phase. Menopause can come with varied challenges which could defer from one person to another across different ages.

Objective: To investigate level of awareness and the challenges of menopause in women aged 45 - 65 years in Yenagoa metropolis of Bayelsa State, Nigeria, and make recommendations.

Methods: The study adopted a descriptive survey design. It comprised a total number of 384 respondent women within the age bracket, 45 - 65 years. The sample size was determined by using Cochran’s formula. A systematic sampling technique was adopted to pick and interview women who agreed to have entered menopausal stage in every 10^th house in each of 20 communities. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze data collected, comprising tables and simple percentages.

Results: For women experiencing physical menopausal challenges - Hot flashes reported 60.1%; Heart palpitation (18.5%); and other variables reported - Insomnia (8.9%), Night sweats (6.5%) and Osteoporosis (6.0%). On vaginal challenges, painful intercourse reported 56.5%; Low libido (30.5%) and Urinary urgency (13.0%). Psychological challenges reported as per Anxiety (49.5%); Depression (39.8%); and Mood swing (10.7%). Cognitive challenges reported Dementia (20.8%); Lack of focus (21.6%) and neither Dementia nor Lack of focus (57.6%). In conclusion, awareness level about the challenges associated with menopause by women in the study area was poor (15.6%).

Recommendations: This study recommends regular exercises and intake of calcium supplement, starting from perimenopause phase for the reduction of osteoporosis. The study also recommends change of diet to include increased intake of soya products like flask seed to perform the function of the estrogen, increase in water intake to check painful sexual intercourse, and gorontula intake to improve libido.

 Keywords: Menopause; Physical Challenges; Psychological Challenges; Cognitive Challenges and Vaginal Challenges

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Citation

Citation: Diri E Gloria and Ighedose O Lucky. “Awareness Level and the Challenges of Menopause in Women in Yenagoa Metrolpolis of Bayelsa State, Nigeria”.Acta Scientific Medical Sciences 8.7 (2024): 93-99.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2024 Diri E Gloria and Ighedose O Lucky. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.