الخلاصة

Menopause is an important stage in woman’s life. Many women reach menopause without sufficient knowledge about the expected problems and how to deal with solving these problems. Therefore, proper knowledge is very necessary during this period to deal with all changes. The current study is aimed as assessing the level of women’s knowledge regarding management of menopausal health issues, and to find out the relationship between women’s knowledge and their socio-demographic characteristics of age, marital status, level of education and work status. The descriptive design, cross-sectional study was conducted in primary health care centers were existed within northern care sector and southern care sector in AL-Najaf AL- Ashraf City from the period 25th September 2016 to 15th August 2017. A non-probability sampling technique, purposive sample was used to collect (150) women in menopausal age. An instrument consisted of five main parts focuses on menopausal knowledge done by interview of participants. The total questions of instrument was (28) questions ready for statistical analysis by statistical package of social sciences version (21). The result showed that from total (150) participated women the assessment of knowledge toward general information about menopause was fair. Besides, the knowledge of women toward symptoms of menopause and management was fair. According to relation between socio-demographical characteristics and knowledge, age and marital status were not found association. While, level of education and work status showed significant association with women's knowledge. Except knowledge about symptoms and work status not found significant association. The study concluded that the women’s knowledge was fair in general information about menopause and associated symptoms. Knowledge regarding management was also fair. Socio-demographical characteristics of women not found association between age and marital status to their knowledge. Level of education significantly associated with knowledge about menopause, symptoms, and management. Knowledge about menopause and management was found association with their work status. While, their knowledge about symptoms not found association. Moreover, information of participants was superficial and slight about this period. Knowledge of participants were inadequate to meet their needs in this period, because they believe menopause is a normal life changes not a disease and might be tolerated without implementation. The study recommends conduct teaching programs to health care providers about menopausal symptoms and management to enhance their knowledge. Further studies about attitude of menopausal women and how deal with associated symptoms that faced women in this period. Knowledge of women toward menopause always in need of assessment periodically. Establish special unit for menopausal women within primary health care centers to enhance their health awareness and motivate management of common symptoms