Attitudes toward menopause among middle-aged women: A community survey in an island of Taiwan

Objectives: The purpose of this report is to explore the attitudes toward menopause of middle-aged women in Taiwan as well as to examine related factors. Methods: A large community-based sample of Taiwanese women aged 40-54 years who are living on the islet of Kinmen were recruited for this study. Attitudes toward menopause were collected with a self-administered questionnaire. Results:. Of a targeted population of 1429 individuals, 1113 (78%) participated in the study. The mean age was 48.5 +/- 4.0 years (range, 43-57 years) and 434 women (39%) were premenopausal. The rate of current hormone use was 13.5%. Compared to premenopausal women, fewer postmenopausal women agreed that menopause depressed them, and that interests distracted their attention from menopause (p < 0.01, Mann-Whitney test). Postmenopausal women did not believe that menopause would change their lives, and not having periods made women feel regretful. Compared with the illiterate women, higher educated women were more regretful about menopause (p < 0.05, Mann-Whitney test). Women who experienced vasomotor symptoms within 2 weeks of the study expressed a more negative attitude regarding menopause. Conclusions: Women in Taiwan held a more positive attitude toward menopause as compared to prior studies in other countries. They had a more positive attitude when they actually faced menopause. Education and vasomotor symptoms had a significantly negative impact on menopausal perceptions. This report provides more insight on the perception of menopause in Taiwanese women that will guide future public health initiatives. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.