[Evaluation of knowledge about climacteric in Andalusian women].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the level of knowledge about the menopause of Andalusian women between 30 and 60 years old; and to determine their knowledge's relationship with social and demographic variables, health service use and their position as regards the climacteric.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
A sample of 770 Andalusian women between 30 and 60 was chosen, for a sample error of +/- 5% and 95% confidence interval, chosen through multi-stage sampling: at random with proportionality for province and size of habitat, and sampling by age quotas and educational background.


METHODS
The principal study variable was women's level of knowledge about the menopause, evaluated through a validated test of 56 dichotomous questions. In the descriptive analysis, the mean, standard deviation and 95% CIs were obtained; in the analysis of relationships, the test of homogeneity of means, and variance and regression analysis were used.


RESULTS
On a scale of 0-56, the mean on the sample was 18.17 with a standard deviation of 14.37 (95% CI: 17.15-19.17). 57.9% of the sample polled had values of low or very low level of knowledge. In the analysis of relationships, and according to the variance analysis data, we found that the level of understanding is related (p < 0.001) to age (F = 64.21), educational background (F = 131.19), type of menopause (F = 8.94), and having received information on the menopause (F = 7.57). Of these four variables it is educational background which most explains the variability in knowledge (r = 0.52, p < 0.001). However, experience of the menopause or use of the health services for the menopause do not seem to affect knowledge about the climacteric period and its treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The lack of knowledge of the menopause shown by the population studied demonstrates the need for Health Education on this stage of life. The relationships analysis leads us to conclude that the profile of women studied who knew most was someone with middle/high educational background, aged 30-40, who had had a surgical menopause, and had received information about the menopause.
García Padilla
F M
FM
Departamento de Enfermería, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Universidad de Huelva.
López Santos
V
V
Toronjo Gómez
A M
AM
Toscano Márquez
T
T
Contreras Martín
A
A
D000328:Adult; D002979:Climacteric; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013030:Spain