[The opinion of women on menopause and treatment of its symptoms].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the perception of a group of women from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil, with respect to menopause and its treatment.


METHODS
A secondary analysis was performed on data from a population-based, cross sectional study carried out with 378 Brazilian born women between 40 and 65 years of age, with 11 years or more of formal education. Some women added spontaneous comments to the end of the questionnaire on sexuality handed out by research assistants and self-responded anonymously. There were those who provided comments at the end of the questionnaire and those who did not. The groups were compared with respect to sociodemographic and reproductive characteristics using Pearson's chi-square test. Comments were transcribed in their entirety to a computerized file for thematic content analysis, and units of meaning were identified and classified.


RESULTS
Approximately one-third of the women (114/378) provided comments. Significantly more women with lower income levels provided comments as compared to those with higher income levels. The principal identified categories of analysis were: a) uncertainty and/or confusion, mainly with regard to anguish, stress and doubts about menopause; b) symptoms that lead to negative feelings, such as hot flushes, vaginal dryness and mood changes; and c) hormone replacement therapy, fears and perception of a lack of conviction in the physicians who prescribe it.


CONCLUSIONS
The comments indicate that more attention must be given to the problems perceived in climacteric women with a special emphasis on those of the lower incomes levels.
Valadares
Ana Lúcia
AL
Departamento de Tocoginecologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, SP.
Pinto-Neto
Aarão Mendes
AM
Conde
Délio Marques
DM
Osis
Maria José
MJ
Sousa
Maria Helena de
MH
Costa-Paiva
Lúcia
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007989:Libido; D008593:Menopause / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012306:Risk; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016387:Women's Health