Current situation of reproductive health literacy among menopausal women in a community in Pudong New Area, Shanghai

ObjectiveTo have a general observation of the reproductive health literacy level and the influencing factors in the menopausal women, so as to find out the existing problems and deficiencies and to work out a strategy basis for their health management in communities.

MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted to investigate the reproductive health literacy of women aged from 40 to 60 years old.The questionnaire used for the study was from The Project of The Three-Year Action Plan for Shanghai Public Health System (The Action Project of Scientific and Technological Innovation Leading Shanghai Women and Children′s Health Promotion, 2015-2017).

ResultsThe number of questionnaires released came to 728 copies, with 721 valid questionnaires returned and the effective recovery rate being 99.04%.The average score of the questionnaire was 62.82(σ=13.38).The self-ratings which involved obtaining and screening medical information, two diseases screening and hormone replacement therapy were relatively low.The investigators obtained a common knowledge of the menopause susceptibilities and the symptoms, but had not a comprehensive cognition.The total scores of female reproductive health literacy in menopause had a decreasing trend with age (F=8.73, P < 0.001).Menopausal women with better education scored higher(F=64.03, P < 0.001).The scores of managers, professional technicians and general staffs were relatively higher, while the lower scores were with the employees in commercial and service industries, farming, forestry, animal husbandry, fishing, water conservancy, production, and transportation equipment operators.(F=14.68, P < 0.001).The total scores increased with the increase of the monthly income per family (F=13.39, P < 0.001).

ConclusionThe level of reproductive health literacy of the menopausal women is not high in Jinqiao community, and there is a significant malconformation due to impact factors such as age, education level, occupation and income, all of which influenced the health literacy and scores for menopausal women.