Bridging the Gap: Health Communication, Societal Support, and Empowerment in Midlife Women’s Experiences of Perimenopause

Over the world, 657million women are 45 to 67 years of age, 47% of them participate in the work force during their menopausal years. Women across the world don’t get enough information about this transitional period of their life. Neither do they receive proper health care nor societal support from their family members or the workplace. Research proved this phase in women’s life is critical and could be challenging on many levels and women’s testimonials identify the lack of knowledge about this issue among women themselves as well as their health care providers. This research is exploring the knowledge and attitudes of middle-aged Egyptian women about the menopause and perimenopause. In depth interviews and an online survey were used for data collection. Health consciousness, health knowledge and social norms are related to adopting empowering strategies. Women with stronger self-control respond with more empowerment seeking through health communication. The study reveals a significant gap in knowledge about perimenopause among women, contributing to a broader issue of misinformation and societal neglect. Participants highlighted the lack of awareness, both personal and communal, which leads to experiences of isolation, stigma, and insufficient support from family and society.
Keywords: Health communication- menopause- perimenopause- health consciousness- health knowledge- health-related self-control- empowering strategies.