From Menarche to Menopause: Exploring reproductive health awareness among pakistani women
1 Department of General Surgery, Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad, Pakistan.
2 Former Medical Student at Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad, Pakistan
3 Department of Medical Acute Unit, St. Vincent’s Private Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
4 Department of Medical Oncology, St. Vincent’s Private Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
5 Department of General Medicine, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan.
6 Department of General Medicine, Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad, Pakistan.
7 Department of General Surgery, Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, Pakistan.
8 Clinical Teaching Assistant at Dubai Medical University, UAE.
9 Medical Student at Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad, Pakistan.
10 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Alfalah Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Research Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2024, 24(02), 2369–2377
Publication history:
Received on 25 September 2024; revised on 17 November 2024; accepted on 20 November 2024
Abstract:
Introduction: Women's reproductive health knowledge is crucial for their well-being, particularly in LMICs like Pakistan, where cultural barriers often prevent open discussions. This study explores the reproductive health awareness among Pakistani women, focusing on menstruation, contraception, STD prevention, pregnancy, and menopause.
Methods: Data were collected from 125 Pakistani women aged 15–49, covering demographics, menstrual knowledge, STD awareness, contraception, AIDS awareness, menopause, and general reproductive health knowledge.
Results: Participants, aged 17–46, were mostly married, urban, educated, and from middle-income backgrounds. Only 45.6% knew about menarche before it occurred, and 54% received counseling at its onset. Medical help was preferred for fertility issues, but traditional methods were used for pregnancy termination. While 65.6% were aware of STDs, awareness was higher in urban areas. Only 37% were aware of menopause-related health risks. Contraceptive use was low, with educated women showing better timing knowledge. About 59% knew about AIDS, with media as a primary source. The term “reproductive health” was unfamiliar to 78% of participants. Cultural norms, shyness, and limited sources were reported as major barriers.
Discussion: Significant gaps in reproductive health knowledge highlight urban-rural disparities and the influence of cultural barriers. Women sought medical advice for fertility but relied on traditional practices for terminations. Effective educational initiatives could address misconceptions, especially around STDs, contraception, and menopause.
Conclusion: Reproductive health education in Pakistan is essential for empowering women. Enhanced programs, culturally sensitive approaches, and accessible platforms are needed to address knowledge gaps, enabling informed decisions and better health outcomes.
Keywords:
Reproductive health; Women's health awareness; Contraception knowledge; Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs); Menopause awareness; Reproductive health education barriers; Reproductive health disparities; Cultural barriers in health; Urban-rural health knowledge gap; Maternal health empowerment.
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Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0