Menopause and work--the experience of middle-aged female teaching staff in an Egyptian governmental faculty of medicine.
OBJECTIVE
There is a global trend of increasing numbers of older women in the workforce. However, limited information is available regarding the relationship between the menopause transition and work, especially in developing countries. The objectives of this study were to investigate the relationship between experience of the menopause transition and work and to examine the factors affecting how women cope, including the extent to which women disclosed their menopausal status.


METHODS
Using a cross-sectional single group design, 131 middle-aged female medical teaching staff working in Zagazig Faculty of Medicine completed questionnaires and semi-structured interviews.


RESULTS
Participants, particularly those who were postmenopausal, reported high average scores on depressed mood, memory/concentration, sleep problems, vasomotor symptoms, and sexual behavior subscales of the Women's Health Questionnaire (WHQ). Women reported that poor working environment and work policies and conditions, functioning as sources of work stress, aggravated their menopausal symptoms. Disclosure of their menopausal status was uncommon; limited time and socio-cultural barriers were the most commonly reported reasons for non-disclosure.


CONCLUSIONS
It could be concluded that the menopause transition is an important occupational health issue especially for women in developing countries. Implementing health promotion programs, improving working environment and work policies, and raising awareness of menopause are recommended to help women to cope with the menopause transition and to maintain well-being and productivity at work.
Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt. rehabhammam@yahoo.com
Rehab A M
RA
Hammam
Reem A
RA
Abbas
Myra S
MS
Hunter
D001288:Attention; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory; D008593:Menopause / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health; D014937:Work