Self Care of Menopausal Women in Phrae Province. (การดูแลอนามัยของสตรีวัยหลังเจริญพันธุ์ในจังหวัดแพร่)
The objectives of this survery research were to study a health status, menopausal syndrome, knowledge, attitude and self care practive and its associated factors of menopausal women. Three hundred and five menopausal women aged 45-59 years were interviewed during December 1998-March 1999. The result revealed that, the average of menopausal age was 47.9 years.Majors symptoms were pain at joints, bones and muscles.The proportion of body mass index of menopausal women, categorized into low, normal, over and obesity were 12.8%, 63.0%, 20.3% and 3.9% respectively. They acquired hypertension, bone and joint pain. Sixty two percent of them had knowledge scores at a moderate level, 57.3% of them scored well in attitude and 67.2% did well in self care. They rarely exercised and drank milk. Both knowledge and attitude could possibly predicted self care practice about 14%. Factors significantly associated with self care were a level of education and occupation (p<0.05). As a result, self care and annual physical examination programs for menopausal women in community centers, should be promoted as an active strategy. Target groups should be illiterate and primary education level farmers and labors. Key words: menopause, self care