A STUDY TO ASSESS THE KNOWLEDGE REGARDING PREMENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS AND ITS MANAGEMENT AMONG WOMEN AGED BETWEEN 40-50 YEARS IN SELECTED RURAL AREAS OF KANCHIPURAM DISTRICT

Abstract

Abstract

A normal healthy woman’s reproductive phase is usually known by the terms such as menarche which means the age of first menstruation, menstruation denotes the periodic and cyclical shedding of endometrium, puberty is the period of increased general body growth and development of secondary sexual characters and sex organs and girls become capable of reproduction, and menopause is the cessation of menstruation due to rapid decrease in the production of female sex hormones by the ovaries at the age of about 45-55 years.

Objectives of the study  

1. To assess the knowledge regarding premenopausal symptoms and its management among women residing at selected rural areas of Kanchipuram district.


2. To determine the relationship between the knowledge with selected socio demographic variables.


3. To prepare a health education pamphlet on premenopausal symptoms and its management.

60 women aged between 40 -50 years were selected through simple random sampling method from selected. Data collected by semi structured interview schedule and analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics in terms of frequencies, percentage, mean, standard deviation and chi square analysis.

Summary of major findings

Findings related to selected socio demographic variable:  Out of 60 mothers 56.67% were in the age group 40-45 years. About 86.67% were Hindus. Majority 96.6% of the women were married 45% were illiterate. In rural area about 63.33% of the women were housewives and 23.33% were coolie. Among the study subjects 40% of their monthly income below Rs.6000/-.The majority of the sample (50%) got previous information from the friends or relatives about the premenopausal symptoms. knowledge reveals that 90% of the rural women had inadequate knowledge, and only 10% of them had moderate knowledge. No one in the rural area had adequate knowledge regarding premenopausal symptoms and its management. The overall mean knowledge score of rural women was 33.67 with SD 5.69. The highest mean knowledge score (42.83) was found on general information regarding menopause and premenopausal period with SD as 0.95. The study concluded that overall knowledge score of the rural women (33.67%). The study also reveals that the knowledge of women regarding premenopausal symptoms and its management was significantly Inadequate related with the educational status in rural women.