Table 4 Positive and negative perceptions towards menopause according to educational level among Sarawak women (N = 324)
From: Perception of menopause among women of Sarawak, Malaysia
Perception of menopause | No formal education (n = 42) | Primary level (n = 102) | Secondary level (n = 140) | Tertiary level (n = 40) | p value | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Agree n (%) | Disagree n (%) | Not SURE n (%) | Agree n (%) | Disagree n (%) | Not Sure n (%) | Agree n (%) | Disagree n (%) | Not sure n (%) | Agree n (%) | Disagree n (%) | Not sure n (%) | ||
Positive perceptions | |||||||||||||
Menopause is a natural process | 6 (14.2) | 5 (11.9) | 31 (73.8) | 20 (19.6) | 15 (14.7) | 67 (65.6) | 29 (20.7) | 14 (10) | 97 (69.2) | 18 (45)† | 10 (25) | 12 (30) | < 0.05 |
Natural approaches for menopausal symptoms are better than hormonal | 11 (26.1) | 3 (7.1) | 28 (66.6) | 28 (27.4) | 5 (4.9) | 69 (67.6) | 40 (28.5) * | 7 (5) | 93 (66.4) | 26 (65)† | 3 (7.5) | 11 (27.5) | < 0.05 |
Absence of menses after menopause is a relief | 38 (90.4) | 0 (0) | 4 (9.5) | 78 (76.4) | 1 (0.9) | 23 (22.5) | 89 (63.5) * | 1 (0.7) | 50 (35.7) | 38 (95)† | 0 (0) | 2 (5) | < 0.05 |
After menopause, no changes in sex enjoyment | 1 (2.3) | 5 (11.9) | 36 (85.7) | 2 (1.9) | 7 (6.8) | 93 (91.7) | 4 (2.8) | 18 (12.8) | 118 (84.2) | 2 (5) | 20 (50) | 18 (45) | |
Not to be worried about pregnancy | 4 (9.5) | 1 (2.3) | 37 (88) | 9 (8.8) | 1 (0.9) | 92 (90.1) | 41 (29.2) | 3 (2.1) | 96 (68.5) | 37 (92.5)† | 2 (5) | 1 (2.5) | < 0.05 |
Negative perceptions | |||||||||||||
Menopause should be treated medically | 3 (7.1) | 4 (9.5) | 35 (83.3) | 19 (18.6) | 6 (5.8) | 77 (75.4) | 33 (23.5) * | 9 (6.4) | 98 (70) | 16 (40) | 10 (25) | 14 (35) | |
Women are less sexually attractive after the menopause | 8 (19) | 7 (16.6) | 27 (64.2) | 18 (17.6) | 9 (8.8) | 75 (73.5) | 59 (42.1) * | 17 (12.1) | 64 (45.7) | 28 (70)† | 11 (27.5) | 1 (2.5) | < 0.05 |
Feels less of a woman following menopause | 11 (26.1) | 12 (28.5) | 19 (45.2) | 21 (20.5)†† | 22 (21.5) | 59 (57.8) | 30 (21.4) | 27 (19.2)* | 83 (59.2) | 17 (42.5) | 19 (47.5) | 4 (10) | < 0.05 |
Menopause causes unpleasant symptoms | 14 (33.3) | 0 (0) | 28 (66.6) | 43 (42.1) | 0 (0) | 59 (57.8) | 108 (77.1) | 0 (0) | 32 (22.8) | 33 (82.5)† | 0 (0) | 7 (17.5) | < 0.05 |
Changes in life during menopause are stressful | 12 (28.5) | 0 (0) | 30 (71.4) | 32 (31.3) | 1 (0.9) | 69 (67.6) | 30 (21.4) | 1 (0.7) | 109 (77.8) | 15 (37.5) | 1 (2.5) | 24 (60) | |