Factors Affecting Level Of Preparedness For Menopause Among Pre-Menopausal Women In Leo Community, Ido Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Menopause is a phase in women’s reproductive life often characterized with many health

challenges. Previous studies have revealed that there are gaps in knowledge, wrong perceptions

and level of preparedness relating to menopause among pre-menopausal women. This study

explored level of preparedness for menopause among pre-menopausal women in Leyaju, Elere

and Oloko (LEO) community, Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State.

Study sample was calculated using Kish and Leslie formular and a three-stage random sampling

technique was used in selecting 426 women aged 30-44 years from LEO community. Six Focus

Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted to determine the discussants level of preparedness

for menopause, their knowledge and perception about menopause. A validated interviewer

administered questionnaire containing 33-point knowledge and 5-point level of preparedness

scales were used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of menopause

and level of preparedness. Scores of ≤ 16 and ≥ 17 points were regarded as low and high

knowledge respectively while scores of ≤ 1, 2 and ≥ 3 were considered as not prepared, slightly

prepared and very prepared respectively. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive, Chisquare

and logistic regression while qualitative data were subjected to content analysis.

The mean age of the respondents was 36.6  4.5 years and 86.9% were married. About eleven

percent of the respondents had no formal education and 40.6% had secondary education.

Majority (89.0%) of the respondents were Yoruba and 76.0% had ever heard about menopause.

Sources of information on menopause included, relatives (36.0%), health care providers (18.1%),

radio (13.4%), friends (12.0%) and internet (2.1%). Respondents’ mean knowledge score on

menopause was 11.6  2.5. The mean knowledge scores by level of preparedness were: not

prepared (5.7 ± 2.1), slightly prepared (10.6 ± 2.9) and very prepared (18.5 ± 2.5) with a

significant difference (p