An Australian study on the sociocultural context of menopause: directions for contemporary nursing practice

Abstract

This research project by Berger (1997) investigates the physical, psychological, and sociocultural menopause experiences of a group of seventy women aged 45-70 years from Brisbane, Australia. Thus far the narrative provided for mid-life women shows a preoccupation with medical/biological perspectives that emphasize negative images of menopausal women as estrogen deficient and diseased. This new study is considered to be one of the few more recent attempts that investigates menopausal women within a sociocultural context and explores women's views about menopause as a normal, natural transition part of the ageing process. A qualitative approach (comprising focus groups and interviews) was aimed at women in mid-life who were willing to share their insights of this complex phase, to document individual variations and broad patterns. Findings provided enhanced understanding of many menopause aspects (such as appropriate treatment) that remain controversial. Content analysis uncovered three emerging themes: 1) contrary to popular beliefs menopause usually signified wellness; 2) apart from biological changes, the sociocultural context played a pivotal role in modifying menopause experiences; and 3) women did not feel adequately supported by health professionals. The findings signify that nurses are ideally placed to assist menopausal women in a variety of health care settings.

Representations and Perceived Consequences of Menopause by Peri- and Post-Menopausal Portuguese Women: A Qualitative Research

“…Although the vast majority of the research around menopause has focused on the negative experiences and adverse symptoms, other studies have evidenced that women can recognize positive experiences associated with menopause (Berger & Forster, 2001;Betti et al, 2001;Deeks & McCabe, 2004). As Winterich (2003) infers, however, very little research explores the positive sexual changes during the climacteric period.…”

A quantitative analysis of the menopause experience of Indian women living in Sydney

“…7,8,10,11 By contrast, in developed countries, ageing may be viewed negatively as a phase of life associated with loss of youthfulness and beauty and a fear of ageing, no longer feeling loved and wanted, and being invisible and lonely. 12 European and North American women report more symptoms and visit health practitioners more frequently than other women. 7,8 We have found previously that Arabic women, living in Sydney, report a high prevalence of menopause symptoms, compared with other ethnic groups.…”

The menopause ‘It's somewhere between a taboo and a joke’. A focus group study

“…Support from health-care professionals appeared as an important factor in focus groups, and unstructured interviews with 70 menopausal and postmenopausal Australian women 27 . Similar to our results, the Australian study found that there was a perceived lack of support from family doctors about the menopause 27 .…”

“…Support from health-care professionals appeared as an important factor in focus groups, and unstructured interviews with 70 menopausal and postmenopausal Australian women 27 . Similar to our results, the Australian study found that there was a perceived lack of support from family doctors about the menopause 27 . Reasons given for this lack of support were doctors showed a 'lack of care', doctors did not have enough time in the consultation, women's opinions were dismissed, belittled or patronised, and doctors had a negative attitude towards women at this stage of their lives.…”