First author and year: Odiari, 2012 Study design: Qualitative - Interviews Objective: To investigate how women in low resource setting manage menopausal symptoms without HRT | Setting: Ghana, Accra regional hospital Participants: N = 34 (meeting criteria from 82 considered). Mean age 58 years How recruited: Purposive sampling from clinic with random approach for inclusion When: Not stated Inclusion criteria: Had experienced natural menopause. No history of cardiac disease or arthritis before menopause. Conversant in English or Ghanaian languages | Tools and data collection: Semi-structured interview guide. Data collection suspended when data saturation was reached Analysis: NVivo 8 software. Chi-square test. Content analysis. | People who previously experienced menopause (Friends, colleagues or family) = 55.9% Health care providers/media/books/ church meetings = 44.1% | No exclusion criteria Random sampling process unclear Not clear whether two researchers were involved in data analysis |
First author and year: Osinovo, 2003 Study design: Quantitative - Questionnaire Objective: To investigate factors associated with attitude towards sex-role, self-image & marital satisfaction on psychological health status, perception of menopause and sexual satisfaction | Setting: Nigeria, Urban Participants: N = 45. Aged 36 - 70 years (mean 51.4) How recruited: Purposive sampling from women attending a seminar on aging When: Not stated Inclusion criteria: Non-menopausal and menopausal | Tools and data collection: Piloted questionnaire Analysis: SPSS software. Coefficient alpha: 0.94. Descriptive stats | Not stated = 36% Health institutions: = 22% Books = 11% Doctors = 7% Books/Health workers = 7% Friends = 4% Books/friends/relatives= 4% Books/Friends/Doctors= 4% Professional experience = 2% Sex education = 2% | Not clear how many questionnaires were distributed in total |
First author and year: Ramakeula, 2015 Study design: Qualitative - Focus groups Objective: To explore and describe women, menopause and aging in rural villages | Setting: South Africa, rural Participants: N = 24 to 32 (not specified). Aged 45 and over. How recruited: Purposive sampling in four villages When: Not stated Inclusion criteria: Pre-, peri- and post-menopausal women |
Tools and data collection: Four focus groups (6 - 8 women per group) Analysis: Tesch’s open coding. Clustered into themes and sub-themes. | Informed by nurse at a church conference | Data collection period not indicated Not indicated if two researchers were involved in data analysis |
First author and year: Saka, 2011 Study design: Quantitative - Questionnaire Objective: To assess the perceived cause, expectation, knowledge and sources of health information, women’s knowledge and adjustment behaviour towards menopause. | Setting: Nigeria, Ilorin Participants: N = 400 (396 providing information on sources used). Aged 40 years and over How recruited: Multi-stage random sampling When: Not stated Inclusion criteria: Menopausal women with 12 months amenorrhoea | Tools and data collection: Semi-structured questionnaire translated from English to other languages as required Analysis: EpiInfo software. Means and frequencies. Chi-square test. | Friends = 38.6% Relatives = 28.0% Group meeting & religious home = 12.6% Health workers = 9.6% Books/news papers/magazines/mass media = 7.1% Others = 4.0% | Data collection period not indicated Validity and reliability of tools not indicated |