Kurtulus Aile Sagligi Merkezi, Vatan Cd, 12/A Eskişehir, Turkey.
BMC Womens Health. 2010 Jan 11;10:1. doi: 10.1186/1472-6874-10-1.
It is a well accepted status that socio-cultural characteristics may affect the onset of menopause and its characteristics. The aims of this study were to describe the prevalence rates of menopausal symptoms and these symptoms related factors, and to assess the women's attitudes towards some climacteric issues.
This survey was conducted between Jan., 1st 2008 and March, 31st 2008 to research the menopause status of the female population in a city of western Turkey. The study group consisted of 1551 women selected with a multistage area sampling method: a random sample of individuals aged 40-65 years. The questionnaire included questions pertaining to women's sociodemographic characteristics, women's menopausal status, some statements about the climacteric, use of hormones at menopause or before menopause, and some climacteric myths. The data was analyzed by Chi-square (x2) analysis and percent (%) ratios with a significant value of P < 0.05.
The mean age of the women was 49.1 years. Over 90% of the women were of the negative opinion that the climacteric is "the end of youth", "the end of fecundity", and "the end of unclean days". Most women said that cessation of menstrual periods was the most positive thing because they do not have to wait for monthly bleedings, use sanitary equipment, or take birth control methods. There were significant connections between age groups and nearly all the items, with the exception of the items "the end of life" and "the end of fecundity". Among the women, hot flushes were the most common complaint occurring in 96.5% of women: being severe in 32.9%, moderate in 43.1% and mild in 20.4%. This was followed by low backache or muscle pain 95.0% (25.9% severe, 46.0% moderate and mild 23.1%), headache 91.7% (21.9% severe, 34.9% moderate and 34.9% mild) and feeling tired 91.0% (15.3% severe, 38.6% moderate and 37.1% mild).
Most of the women in this study had mixed ideas of opinions concerning the climacteric, and the majority was also suffering from climacteric complaints. This data could assist healthcare providers in the provision of culturally competent health care to midlife Turkish women.
社会文化特征可能会影响绝经期的发生及其特征，这是一个公认的事实。本研究的目的是描述绝经期症状的流行率及其相关因素，并评估女性对一些更年期问题的态度。
本调查于 2008 年 1 月 1 日至 2008 年 3 月 31 日进行，旨在研究土耳其西部一个城市的女性人口的绝经期状况。研究组由 1551 名女性组成，采用多阶段区域抽样方法选择：随机抽取 40-65 岁个体。问卷包括与女性社会人口统计学特征、女性绝经期状况、一些关于更年期的陈述、更年期或更年期前使用激素以及一些更年期神话有关的问题。数据分析采用卡方（x2）分析和百分比（%）比值，具有统计学意义的 P 值<0.05。
女性的平均年龄为 49.1 岁。超过 90%的女性认为更年期是“青春的终结”、“生育能力的终结”和“不洁日子的终结”。大多数女性表示，绝经是最积极的事情，因为她们不必等待每月的出血，使用卫生设备或采取避孕方法。年龄组与几乎所有项目之间存在显著关联，除了“生命的终结”和“生育能力的终结”项目。在这些女性中，潮热是最常见的抱怨，96.5%的女性有这种情况：严重 32.9%，中度 43.1%，轻度 20.4%。其次是背痛或肌肉疼痛 95.0%（严重 25.9%，中度 46.0%，轻度 23.1%），头痛 91.7%（严重 21.9%，中度 34.9%，轻度 34.9%）和疲劳感 91.0%（严重 15.3%，中度 38.6%，轻度 37.1%）。
本研究中的大多数女性对更年期持混合意见，而且大多数女性还患有更年期症状。这些数据可以帮助医疗保健提供者为土耳其中年女性提供文化上合适的医疗保健。
