Climacteric and Menopause in Afro-colombian Women: A Culturebased Approach to Health Care

Abstract

A study was conducted with Afro-Colombian women who live at the Aguablanca district of Cali to explore practices for protection and self-care during the transition from climacteric to menopause. The aim was to evaluate the social-cultural factors that influence those practices. An ethno-nursing approach was used to discover the participants’ ethnic perspective as females and to identify practices that are positive and detrimental to their health. Seventeen women were the key participants in this research, and data saturation criteria were applied to consolidate the sample. The results show how women view their own bodies and how they defend and strengthen themselves from menarche (as preparation for their reproductive function) to the onset of menopause. According to their culture, if traditional practices are not taken into account, they will suffer a variety of disorders during the final stage of menstruation, which brings an end to the reproductive cycle. The predominant care practices deal with the significance of blood, sexual activity, cleanliness, special nutrition and the balance to be achieved between hot and cold. The women interviewed blame menopause for certain changes in their bodies, their emotional behavior and their expectations regarding sexuality. The principal findings of the study were classified into three areas: Feeling profound changes in life: the body; feeling changes in mood; feelings about sexuality.