Knowledge, attitudes, and practices on menopause among female health workers in Vietnam - findings from a...

Menopause is a universal stage in women's lives, accompanied by major physiological and psychological changes. In many low- and middle-income countries, including Vietnam, evidence on healthcare workers' knowledge and attitudes towards menopause remains limited, despite their dual role as both providers and recipients of care. This study assessed knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding perimenopause and menopause among female health workers.

A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 403 female health workers aged 40-60 years at Hung Vuong Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, from March to June 2024. Data were collected using a 45-item questionnaire adapted from validated international tools and translated into Vietnamese. Descriptive statistics summarised participant characteristics. Associations between variables were analysed using the χ²/Fisher's exact test, and significant factors were entered into Poisson regression with robust variance to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) with 95% CI.

Most respondents demonstrated good knowledge (73.5%) and positive attitudes (65.3%), while 39.7% reported good practices. Higher education was significantly associated with better knowledge (p < 0.05). Participants with good knowledge were more likely to have positive attitudes (PR 3.55, 95% CI: 1.28-9.8, p = 0.015), and those with good practices were more likely to express positive attitudes (PR 1.55, 95% CI: 1.18-2.04, p = 0.002). Knowledge was also strongly correlated with practice (p < 0.001).

Knowledge showed a strong positive association with both attitude and practice. Workplace-based education is needed to enhance awareness and promote healthier behaviours among female health workers.