| Summary: | Thesis (M.Sc.Nursing)--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, 1998. === The purpose of this study was to examine, from a subjective point of view, the
experiences and meanings of menopause by black nurses.
In South Africa the biomedical model of menopause, which portrays menopause as
a deficiency disease requiring medical treatment, is the model that dominates the
media, and medical thought. The narrow confines of this model leave no room for any
explanation for the richness of experiences that women may have at this time, nor does
it have any scope for the contributions of the socio-cultural, psychological and spiritual
influences that may impact on a woman's life at this time.
This study aimed to explore the actual experiences of women at this time - in this
instance black nurses. Eight respondents were interviewed and the transcribed
interviews were analysed in order to extrapolate categories, themes and sub-themes.
These were then cross-analysed for similarities and disparities. Themes and categories
were illustrated by means of verbatim excerpts from the transcribed interviews. A
literature search was undertaken to validate the results and findings.
Bodily changes, psychological aspects, social relationships and "becoming" emerged
as the central themes; cessation of menses, discomfort, health seeking behaviour,
seeking knowledge, anxiety/fears, emotional tone, relationships and existential and
spiritual aspects also were apparent. These were explored for their impact on the
experience of menopause.
The experience of menopause as described by the respondents does not fit neatly into
the biomedical model. Rather, there emerges a richness of experience that is expected
to lead to a fulfilling future, although this is tempered by fears and anxieties related to
marital abandonment, feeling "less than a woman" and of cancer. Social relationships
were important at this time, and difficulties with partners were highlighted, as was
irritability with children, and to a lesser extent, with colleagues. However, while it was
culturally unacceptable to talk to their mother's about menopause, respondents talked
to colleagues, and these and other friends were perceived as generally being more
helpful and supportive than husbands and partners.
One of the most important findings to come from this research is that there is a great
need for accurate '^formation about menopause to be made available to women. While
the sample is too small for generalisation, confirmation of these findings by other
studies would have implications for health service policies.
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