Waning moon: Revising a culturally informed intervention with perimenopausal American Indian and Alaska native women

American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women experience more vasomotor symptoms during menopausal transition compared to women of other racial and ethnic groups. Yet, there have been no evidence-based interventions aimed at peri‑ and post-menopause treatment among midlife AI/AN women. The aim of this exploratory study was to refine a culturally informed intervention for perimenopause/menopause treatment for midlife AI/AN women.

A Convergent parallel mixed methods design incorporating the principles of community-based participatory research was used. Community Advisory Board members (n = 8) from an urban community of Native women, who also served as participants, participated in meetings on Zoom to refine the intervention. Participants also completed an online survey that included demographics, health status, and integrative health therapy options. Quantitative measures were summarized using descriptive statistics. Content analysis was conducted on summaries of the community advisory board sessions.

All participants self-reported as AI/AN women. During the sessions, women named the intervention, Waning Moon, and shared the following: a) content to be prioritized to best support the needs of Native women; b) mode of delivery and duration of Waning Moon; and c) promoting Waning Moon within the community. Quantitative surveys results revealed that 40% of participants had used integrative health. Synthesizing both quantitative and qualitative findings, responses aligned across data sources regarding willingness to use integrative health approaches and the use of preventative care.

Waning Moon incorporates conventional and integrative health and is greatly desired by AI/AN women. Women's health clinicians should note that integrative and Native treatments are more likely to be accepted by AI/AN women when culturally tailored.