MORBIDITY AND THE USE OF HEALTH SERVICE AMONG POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN IN HUE CITY

Introduction: Menopause, which is a critical stage in the female productive life circle, presents several changes in psychological status, the start of many diseases. In parallel with the morbidity, the need of medical examination for this group is necessary. Objectives: Describe the morbidity, use of medical examination and associated factors among postmenopausal women in Hue, 2016. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted to survey 400 women aged from 50 to 60 with an absence of menstrual periods for at least 12 months in 4 wards in Hue city. Results: 37.8% of women had at least one chronic disease. 56.8% of women got sick-at least 2 months before the study have had conducted. 51.8% had access to medical examination when they got sick. 37.9% chose hospitals and preventive medicine centers as primary care destination, 28.0% visited commune health centers, 9.80% used private clinics, 24.3% applied self-treatment with drugs bought from drugstore. There was relevance between household economic status, symptom menopause status, number of years having menopause associated with sickness. There was relevance between household economic status, symptom menopause status, number of years had menopause, amount of time having sickness and using health service. Conclusion: During postmenopausal period, women had to face several types of diseases, the prevalence of using health services when having sick was not particularly high. Hence women need to take care of themselves, acknowledge that visiting health facilities for primary care is very important in promoting their health as well as reducing the burden of disease.