Menopausal Management Practices in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Cross Sectional Study of Cameroonian Women

  • Yolande Sandrine Mengue Ngadena Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, Letters and Human Science, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon
  • Laura Julienne Ondoua Mbengono Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, Letters and Human Science, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon
  • Dieudonné Pascal Chuisseu Djamen Department of Fundamental Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Université des Montagnes, Bagangté, Cameroon
  • Paul Désiré Dzeufiet Djomeni Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Keywords: Menopause, cross sectional, management, Cameroonian

Abstract

Background

Menopause is a physiological state which induce deep changes in women’s life. Although the climacteric syndrome is very little studied within sub-Saharan women, certainly because of the impact of traditional culture, it have a considerable impact on the quality of life of post-menopausal women. The present study aims at evaluating menopausal management practices during menopause in Cameroonian women.

 

Methods

This study is a cross-sectional and analytical survey of a representative sample of 327 Cameroonian menopausal women. The main inclusion criteria was natural menopause. Investigation form was administrated to woman after their informed consent. Comparison of proportions and student t-test with a significance threshold of less than 0.05 was used.

 

Results

Women exhibit the majority of climacteric syndrome symptoms: hot flushes (57.80 %), night sweats (47.09%), sleep disturbances (59.63 %) and libido decline (66.67 %) among others. 69.72 % of menopausal women were not followed up although the majority of women (58.88 %) wished such medical care. 34.25 % of women of the study used self-medication to ease their symptoms. Attitude facing climacteric period is indifferent for 27.83 %. Socio-economic level was positively correlate to the attitude at menopause (Correlation index = 0.1644; p < 0.05) while professional statute was negatively correlate to medical care (Correlation index =-0.1610; p < 0.05).

 

Conclusion

Cameroonian women managed mainly climacteric symptoms by self-medication. Their socio-economic statute has a positive impact on their attitude during menopause. Furthermore, their professional statute is a decisive factor for medical care of climacteric symptoms.

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Published
2021-07-07
How to Cite
[1]
Ngadena, Y.S.M., Mbengono, L.J.O., Djamen, D.P.C. and Djomeni, P.D.D. 2021. Menopausal Management Practices in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Cross Sectional Study of Cameroonian Women. International Journal on Integrated Education. 4, 6 (Jul. 2021), 358-366. DOI:https://doi.org/10.17605/ijie.v4i6.2034.
Section
Articles