Assessment of Iranian Women's View on the Phenomenon of Menopause: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The perception and viewpoint of women can affect their quality of life. In this study, women's view on the phenomenon of menopause were evaluated. Methods: This qualitative study was performed using phenomenological method with Colaizzi's approach on the perception of menopausal women about menopause in 2018. A total of 14 women aged 45-60 years (menopausal and had husband), were selected by purposeful and homogeneous sampling from individuals referred to comprehensive health centers in Mashhad city, and content analysis was conducted by 7-step Colaizzi's sampling. Results: The findings were categorized in the main areas of "attitude towards menopause" and "supportive resources". According to the findings, women's views on menopause, were completely different. The main content of the findings was obtained as a flight platform or a decrease of decadence, which was indicative of a profound contradiction in menopausal women's view on menopause (including four groups of: compulsory component of life, emancipation, death of femininity, and a bridge to spirituality). Considering supportive resources, the main content of the findings was obtained as need of support, which included family support, education, self-help groups. All women believed that they can improve their quality of life during menopausal period through recognizing the problems and complications of menopause and learning ways to adapt to them and raising the awareness of their husbands. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that most women consider menopause as a natural process of their life, but this physiological process is associated with problems that affect their quality of life; therefore, how women perceive menopause will affect their quality of life. The findings of this study can be used to design interventions for improvement of quality of life in menopausal women.