Abstract:
The aim of the study was to find out the awareness of menopausal symptoms, food
preferences, nutrition related health statuses and strategies to ensure effective diet
management by menopausal women in Agogo, Asante- Akim North District. The
study was a cross sectional survey using descriptive research methods. One hundred
and twenty (120) women between the ages 40 and 60 years were selected by
convenience, purposive and by snowballing methods to select the site, area and
respondents. Instruments used to collect data were questionnaire, interview and
observation checklist. Data was analysed descriptively with (SPSS) version 16.0. The
study revealed that the menopausal age for women in Agogo was between the ages of
46 to 55years. The average age was 51years and 5months. Awareness of menopausal
symptoms was very high and the sources of information were through adult children,
parents, friends and relations. The diets of the respondents were diversified as they
frequently consumed food items from all the six food groups. Major nutrition –
related health problems experienced by respondents were arthritis, hypertension,
diabetes and obesity. It was found that exercise was important for the health of the
respondents but the duration of the exercise among the respondents was short so it is
important to encourage extended periods of exercise. Strategies recommended to
ensure healthy menopause included intensive education and counselling on
menopausal symptoms, management, good nutrition, adequate rest as well as
awareness creation and moral support from the community. Menopausal women
should be encouraged to include a variety of fruits, vegetables, legumes and pulses in
their diet to boost their phyto- oestrogen level. Menopausal women should perform
exercise regularly in the form of walking, jogging, skipping, dancing, and playing
tennis or any weight-bearing exercises but the duration of the exercises should be
extended beyond the present level to make their bones and muscles stronger to
prevent cardiovascular diseases. There should be workshops and seminars for leaders
in the churches by Home Economists and Dieticians to educate the menopausal
women on the symptoms of menopause and the right diet to eat to remedy or reduce
the impact of menopausal symptoms.
Description:
A THESIS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HOME ECONOMICS
EDUCATION, FACULTY OF SCIENCE EDUCATION, SUBMITTED TO
THE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF
EDUCATION, WINNEBA IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR AWARD OF THE MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY
(HOME ECONOMICS) DEGREE
OCTOBER, 2013