Comparing Lifestyle and health of Women in Pre, Near and Post-Menopausal in Employees of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, 2003 Download PDF

Introduction: Menopause is one of the most important stages of a woman's life. Women's life expectancy has increased and by almost one-third of their life is spent at this time. Lack of knowledge about self-care and unhealthy lifestyle of menopausal women is a source of many serious complications in that period. Healthy lifestyle and health habits lead to better health and a better experience about menopause in this period. Since midwives can play an important role in helping women to comply with menopause, aim of the pesent study was to evaluate lifestyle and health of women in pre, near and post-menopausal in employees of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This is a descriptive-comparative study that 167 staff of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (62 patients before, 55 near and 50 post-menopausal) were investigated and were compared using standardized questionnaire of lifestyle and health and data was analyzed using SPSS 11/win software and descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: In this study, there were significant differences among three groups of women (before, near and after menopause) in health scores (P<0/001). The regression analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between the stress management and diet with women's health (p=0/001, and p=0/02, respectively). There was no significant difference in three groups between BMI and lifestyle (p=0/98 and P=0/591, respectively). There was no significant relationship between BMI and health of women in three groups (P=0/121). Conclusion: The results showed that in three groups, there was difference between women's health and there was correlation between lifestyle and women's health in three groups. In order to promote health of women in national development during midlife and menopause, it is recommended to teach healthy lifestyle (exercise, proper diet, no smoking, getting adequate rest and sleep and using stress reduction techniques).