A STUDY OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND SYMPTOMS EXPERIENCE

1.Associate Prof. Dr Nik Hazlina Nik Hussain,Head of Women's Health Development Unit/ Senior Consultant, Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, School of Medical Sciences, USM 2. Dr Lily Husniati Yaacob, Lecturer/ Family Physician, School of Medical Sciences, USM 3. Dr Norhayati Mohd. Nor, Lecturer/ Biostatistician, School of Medical Sciences, USM

The menopause, the last menses, marks the end of female's reproductive capacity. It is a normal developmental process, resulting decline in the estrogen level and lead to a various clinical sequential including physiology, psychology and social aspects of the women. The purpose of the study was to determine the knowledge, attitudes and the symptoms experienced among menopausal women attending menopausal clinic in HUSM. The relationship of the selected sociodemographic factors with knowledge and attitudes toward menopause were also tested. A cross-sectional study was conducted on women who came for treatment in HUSM. Knowledge of menopause was assessed using a self-administered questionnaire (SAQ) base on the Dichotomous Responses. From the study we found that the levels of knowledge of menopause were still lacking and the attitudes were in the neutral level. The study revealed the important of awareness on menopause process to change the levels of knowledge and attitudes among menopausal women toward menopause. Knowing more about menopause might empower women to cope better with menopausal changes.