Menopause experience in First Nations women and initiatives for menopause symptom awareness; a community-based participatory research approach
Abstract Background Little research has been conducted about menopause in First Nations women. In response to the wishes of Cree women living in Maskwacis, Alberta, to start a dialogue on menopause, we undertook community-based participatory research (CBPR) to explore menopause experience and raise...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Women's Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-021-01303-7 |
| _version_ | 1818865998978088960 |
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| author | Beate C. Sydora Bonny Graham Richard T. Oster Sue Ross |
| author_facet | Beate C. Sydora Bonny Graham Richard T. Oster Sue Ross |
| author_sort | Beate C. Sydora |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Little research has been conducted about menopause in First Nations women. In response to the wishes of Cree women living in Maskwacis, Alberta, to start a dialogue on menopause, we undertook community-based participatory research (CBPR) to explore menopause experience and raise awareness of menopause symptoms in the community. Methods The research adhered to the principles of Ownership, Control, Access and Possession (OCAP™) and was guided by the interest of the participating women. Local women (target age 40–65 years) were invited to participate in workshops using word-of-mouth and community posters in health centers. Five research workshops were held in community settings, attended by experienced women’s health researchers and consenting women. The participants guided the informal discussions. They also completed questionnaires which included menopause-related quality of life. The researchers used extensive hand-written field notes to record data; qualitative content analysis was applied to identify themes. Simple descriptive analysis was used for the questionnaire results. The findings were discussed at a community feedback session and laid the basis for further knowledge translation initiatives. Results The five workshops included a total of 37, mostly post-menopausal women with 6–11 women/workshop. The main discussion themes were: "experiences of menopause symptoms" including their impact on quality of life; "menopause knowledge prior to their own experience" with most women feeling that they had insufficient information before menopause; "menopause symptom management" which mainly included practical strategies; "impact of menopause on family members" which was of prime concern with uncontrollable mood changes affecting the whole family and sometimes causing matrimonial disharmony. Questionnaire responses corroborated the workshop discussions. Knowledge translation of the research findings produced two information pamphlets specifically for the Maskwacis community: one for husband/partner, the other for women and family members. These pamphlets have been distributed in all areas of the community. Conclusion This CBPR project addressed a topic identified by the community as being important. Community members developed informative pamphlets in response to the women’s concern of lack of understanding for menopause symptoms among families. This simple solution has been widely accepted by community members, opening the possibility of wider discussion about menopause. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T10:56:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b076465638464d96bb2dbf9015cc96e4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6874 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T10:56:28Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Women's Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-b076465638464d96bb2dbf9015cc96e42022-12-21T20:24:47ZengBMCBMC Women's Health1472-68742021-04-0121111110.1186/s12905-021-01303-7Menopause experience in First Nations women and initiatives for menopause symptom awareness; a community-based participatory research approachBeate C. Sydora0Bonny Graham1Richard T. Oster2Sue Ross3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, 626-1 Community Service Centre, Royal Alexandra HospitalMaskwacis Health ServicesDepartment of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences, University of AlbertaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, 626-1 Community Service Centre, Royal Alexandra HospitalAbstract Background Little research has been conducted about menopause in First Nations women. In response to the wishes of Cree women living in Maskwacis, Alberta, to start a dialogue on menopause, we undertook community-based participatory research (CBPR) to explore menopause experience and raise awareness of menopause symptoms in the community. Methods The research adhered to the principles of Ownership, Control, Access and Possession (OCAP™) and was guided by the interest of the participating women. Local women (target age 40–65 years) were invited to participate in workshops using word-of-mouth and community posters in health centers. Five research workshops were held in community settings, attended by experienced women’s health researchers and consenting women. The participants guided the informal discussions. They also completed questionnaires which included menopause-related quality of life. The researchers used extensive hand-written field notes to record data; qualitative content analysis was applied to identify themes. Simple descriptive analysis was used for the questionnaire results. The findings were discussed at a community feedback session and laid the basis for further knowledge translation initiatives. Results The five workshops included a total of 37, mostly post-menopausal women with 6–11 women/workshop. The main discussion themes were: "experiences of menopause symptoms" including their impact on quality of life; "menopause knowledge prior to their own experience" with most women feeling that they had insufficient information before menopause; "menopause symptom management" which mainly included practical strategies; "impact of menopause on family members" which was of prime concern with uncontrollable mood changes affecting the whole family and sometimes causing matrimonial disharmony. Questionnaire responses corroborated the workshop discussions. Knowledge translation of the research findings produced two information pamphlets specifically for the Maskwacis community: one for husband/partner, the other for women and family members. These pamphlets have been distributed in all areas of the community. Conclusion This CBPR project addressed a topic identified by the community as being important. Community members developed informative pamphlets in response to the women’s concern of lack of understanding for menopause symptoms among families. This simple solution has been widely accepted by community members, opening the possibility of wider discussion about menopause.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-021-01303-7MenopauseMenopause experienceMenopause awarenessMenopause symptomsFirst Nations womenIndigenous population |
| spellingShingle | Beate C. Sydora Bonny Graham Richard T. Oster Sue Ross Menopause experience in First Nations women and initiatives for menopause symptom awareness; a community-based participatory research approach BMC Women's Health Menopause Menopause experience Menopause awareness Menopause symptoms First Nations women Indigenous population |
| title | Menopause experience in First Nations women and initiatives for menopause symptom awareness; a community-based participatory research approach |
| title_full | Menopause experience in First Nations women and initiatives for menopause symptom awareness; a community-based participatory research approach |
| title_fullStr | Menopause experience in First Nations women and initiatives for menopause symptom awareness; a community-based participatory research approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Menopause experience in First Nations women and initiatives for menopause symptom awareness; a community-based participatory research approach |
| title_short | Menopause experience in First Nations women and initiatives for menopause symptom awareness; a community-based participatory research approach |
| title_sort | menopause experience in first nations women and initiatives for menopause symptom awareness a community based participatory research approach |
| topic | Menopause Menopause experience Menopause awareness Menopause symptoms First Nations women Indigenous population |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-021-01303-7 |
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