Abstract

Women between the ages of 40 and 65 years old (the age group of most menopausal women) constitute about 20% of the total population of Cameroon. The health problems of this relatively large group of women are often ignored by primary health care programs, which tend to focus more on reproductive women and children. Clinical and anecdotal evidence suggests, however, that many menopausal women suffer problems and conditions requiring both medical and psychosocial care. This project will focus on women of this age group and their menopausal experience. It will investigate the perceptual and behavioural aspects of menopausal problems requiring attention, especially nonmedical with a view to helping the women concerned to effectively deal with their experience. It will provide information that is currently lacking on the influence of sociodemographic, socioeconomic, and sociocultural factors (such as marital status, social class, religion, folk beliefs) on the health-seeking behaviour of menopausal women. Such information will be useful in further developing a sustainable and appropriate program of care for such women.

Post-Project Summary

A postproject abstract could not be written due to lack of documentation in the IDRC library.

Recipient Institution(s)