Use of health services by the climacteric women in primary health care: The need for an integral approach

During the climacteric, women experience multiple health problems. As their needs are not catered for in an integral fashion due to the lack of any sp ecific programme or mechanism to provide for this, they show an increased u se of the health services, and an increased rate of referrals to different specialists. This study, carried out in a Basic Health Zone in San Fernando (Cadiz, Andalusia, Spain) on a sample of climacteric women who attended th e Health Centre during 1995, examines these points and shows a significantl y higher use of the health services in relation to the rest of the female p opulation (those who are not in the climacteric age group) as well as a hig h percentage of referrals (74.6%) to specialists. It was found that both th e level of knowledge about the climacteric and the use of the health servic es were influenced by the educational level (p < 0.001) and age (p < 0.05). Women who felt that their families provided an understanding and supportiv e attitude were found to have less psychological problems and, consequently , less consultations and referrals for this reason (p < 0.00001). The autho rs hope that their findings will provide a basis for the setting up of a pr ogramme of integral health care for climacteric women at the level of prima ry health care. With careful planning and the drawing up of a strategic pla n, it would be possible to provide for the needs of this population group i n a more satisfactory way, and it would also permit a rationalization of th e resources available.