Abstract

This study examined the socio-cultural preparedness behaviour of women approaching menopause in Ikenne Local Government Area, Ogun State, South-Western Nigeria with the intension of employing the ingredients of family life education as empowerment tool of better preparedness behaviour.  The study employed a community-based descriptive survey of using a 32-item pretested questionnaire probing five areas of menopause preparedness behaviours of the respondents. Psychometrically, the content and face validity of the instrument was established and the reliability of 0.88 at Cronbach’s alpha was obtained using test- retest method. Also a dual translation of English and Yoruba of the instrument was used to gather information from 380 women selected from 25 faith-based organizations. Also a three phase multi-stage cluster sampling technique involving the use of probability sampling techniques were employed. Exclusion criteria were applied for women with certain reproductive health conditions and above age 49.

   The descriptive results revealed the mean age of the respondents as 37. 5 years (SEM = 0.05; SD = 1.02) with their educational preparedness indicating 143(37. 6%) respondents being of  tertiary education. Also their knowledge about menopause when measured on a 40- points scale yielded a mean score of 13.23 (SEM = 0.07).  Moreover, a significant association was established between knowledge of menopause and demographic characteristics of the women at P-values less than 0.05. Furthermore, there was a significant association between  the respondents’ socio-cultural preparedness behaviour and their age, educational level, whereas, no significant association was established between same variable and their marital status and occupation.

In conclusion, this study discovered a relatively low level of women’s socio-cultural preparedness behaviour but average level of knowledge for menopause among the participants. Hence, the recommendation of selected family life counselling techniques as empowerment tools for attainment of accurate preparedness of women for menopause.