Developing a Menopausal Transition Health Promotion Intervention With Indigenous, Integrative, and Biomedical Health...

Area of Science:

• Women's Health
• Indigenous Health
• Menopause Research

Background:

• Few studies address the menopausal transition in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women.
• AI/AN women report high rates of bothersome vasomotor symptoms (VMS), which may indicate chronic disease risk.
• There is a need for evidence-based interventions to address VMS and improve health screening for urban AI/AN women.

Purpose of the Study:

• To understand the health care experiences and needs of midlife AI/AN women during menopause.
• To collaborate with a Community Advisory Board (CAB) to develop a tailored intervention.

Main Methods:

• Formed a CAB with urban midlife AI/AN women.
• Conducted three CAB meetings using a qualitative-descriptive approach and thematic analysis.
• Recruited participants through the Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake and community outreach.

Main Results:

• Four key themes emerged: desire for menopause information, barriers to care access, impact of family priorities on personal health, and preference for Indigenous/integrative medicine.
• Participants expressed a strong need for menopause information for themselves and younger family members.
• Indigenous and integrative medicine approaches were preferred over conventional medicine.

Conclusions:

• Urban AI/AN women have a significant need for menopause information and prefer culturally relevant approaches.
• Integrative and Indigenous medicine are desired first-line interventions.
• Future steps include developing and testing a nurse-delivered health education intervention incorporating Indigenous, integrative, and conventional medical content.