WINDHOEK – 02 February 2010- (New Era)-A study to gauge the knowledge and understanding of men and women about menopause has found that there is general lack of knowledge, which leads some people to misdiagnose some menopausal symptoms incorrectly as HIV/AIDS.

The study also found that many women do not use health facilities and non-medical remedies, yet the traditional remedies seem to have faded away as well.

The study was conducted in 2008 among 1 502 respondent men and women in nine regions of Namibia to assess their knowledge and their understanding about menopause, determine the type of information available and from where it is obtained, examine coping strategies and also to ascertain whether there are traditional ways of passing on information from one generation to the other.

The rationale for the study originates from the assumption that there is little knowledge about menopause and related symptoms.

As a result, some women could confuse HIV-related symptoms with those of menopausal symptoms and take negative actions in response to their menopausal phase, especially in rural areas where access to health facilities/services is limited.

The study, conducted by the University of Namibia’s Multi-Disciplinary Research Centre, says many people have heard about menopause but confuse some of its symptoms with those of HIV/AIDS.

This confusion was greater among Oshiwambo speaking respondents who think that anxiety, hair thinning or loss and skin lesions are symptoms of HIV/AIDS while they are menopausal symptoms.

While 66 percent of the urban Oshiwambo respondents said hair loss or thinning was a symptom of AIDS, six percent reported correctly that hair loss or thinning is a symptom of menopause.

The study revealed higher knowledge on HIV/AIDS related symptoms such as diarrhoea (74 percent), weight loss (62 percent) and skin lesions (56 percent) than those of menopause or those related to both.

Of the 16 most menopausal symptoms according to the report, hot flushes, less interest in sex and changes in sexual responses were the only two symptoms that were related to menopause.

“There is very little knowledge of the symptoms that were related to both,” said the findings of the study initiated by the Namibia National Women’s Organisation (NANAWO) and funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

Menopause refers to a stage in a woman’s life when they miss periods for 12 consecutive months. It is associated with reduced functioning of the ovaries due to aging, resulting in lower levels of estrogen and other hormones and marks the permanent end of fertility.

Common symptoms of menopause include hot flushes, night sweats, skin flushing and sleeping problems (insomnia).

According to the report, respondents in Kavango, Omusati, and Oshana regions also confused most menopausal symptoms with those of HIV/AIDS.

Only a small fraction of the women utilised health facilities as sources of information with a whopping 81 percent not utilizing the health facilities.

While all German, English and Afrikaner women sought health services, among the other ethnic groups, health services utilisation was higher among the 56-65 age group and lowest among the 38-45 year age group.

Respondents from Oshana, Kavango, Omusati, Kunene and Erongo regions reported high non-use of health services indicating that they rely on social networks as their main source of information on symptoms of menopause.

The study also probed whether there are any traditional ways of passing on menopause information from one generation to another and the methods of transmitting the information.

At least 29 percent used traditional means, 47 percent had received information from their mothers while 24 percent relied on information from traditional healers.

The report explained that the majority did not seek any help because they do not view symptoms of menopause as a problem.

Those who used health facilities also used sleep, exercise, hormonal therapy and dietary modifications as coping strategies.

However, 65 percent did not use any coping strategy, with the majority of these being women with lower education levels.

Some San and women from Caprivi used traditional herbs while their Afrikaner, English and German counterparts used hormonal replacement therapy.

Researchers recommend that information on menopause and related symptoms be made available to all women of childbearing age.

“The awareness effort should target all women and their partners for possible understanding and support,” states the report.

In addition, menopause information should be integrated into existing health service training programmes.

Online at: http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=9355