title: Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions towards menopause among highly educated Asian women in their midlife.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine knowledge levels, and attitudes and perceptions towards, menopause among highly educated Asian women in their midlife.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five teaching institutions in Hyderabad, Pakistan.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 200 out of 225 (89% response rate) teachers, lecturers and professors, aged 40-59 years, were surveyed in 2013 using a self-administered questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of responders was 48 years. Premenopausal and perimenopausal women attributed for 58%, whereas 42% were postmenopausal. All women had a masters degree; 15% had a PhD degree. Forty-six percent of responders thought they had sufficient knowledge about the menopause and 87% had positive perceptions about it, with 76% feeling life was easier and calmer as a result of it. Reported negative perceptions included 30% of women experiencing feelings of grumpiness, irritability, altered work capability and loss of femininity. Health professionals were an information resource. of 60% of cases, only 5% of participants knew about hormone replacement therapy and none knew about available alternative therapies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the fact that the majority of women felt well informed and exhibited a positive attitude towards menopause, a strong urge for more knowledge was expressed. Public health care systems should mobilize resources and take measures to improve women's awareness and knowledge about menopause-related changes through a variety of educational tools and media, including the Internet. A recommendation would be for physicians to provide more information about menopausal symptoms and also therapies to alleviate these symptoms, regardless of the patient's socioeconomic background.
authors.affiliation: North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, UK fouziarasoolbux@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Fouzia R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Memon
authors.affiliation: North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, UK.
authors.forename: Leon
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jonker
authors.affiliation: Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro. Pakistan.
authors.forename: Roshan A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Qazi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006306:Health Surveys; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Alternative therapies; HRT; menopause; perimenopause; postmenopause; vasomotor symptoms