Naturalistic inquiry was the method used in this qualitative study, examining the
experience of the menopause and climacteric of women in Australia from a
non-English speaking background. Women form over one-half of the
Australian population, with 12% of this number being from a non-English
speaking background country, and 14% of these women speaking a language
other than English (LOTE) in the family home. These women seek health-care
in a care system which was established and is maintained in the Anglo-Celtic
tradition. As these women approach the menopause and the climacteric years,
how culturally appropriate is our health-care service for these women? The
study was conducted in the Western suburbs of Melbourne which has a higher
percentage of people born overseas (34.6%) than the national or Victorian
percentage of 22%. Data was collected by in-depth interviews with 33 women
from the countries of Vietnam, the Philippines, China, Malta, Italy, Greece
and Lebanon.
Issues explored and contained in the data included the women's difficulties with
their own health at the time of menopause, the significant beliefs and practices
about menopause in their countries of origin, availability of culturally relevant
information and treatment in the health care system. Findings included
negative attitudes to menopause and usage of hormone replacement therapy,
cultural overtones in the women's beliefs about menopause, religion being a
determinant in acceptance and coping with menopause and the climacteric,
inadequate information provided by health-care professionals, and the
unavailibility of printed information in the appropriate language. The provision
of Medicare was an important factor in the women's ability to access health
care. As Australia is a multicultural country, it would appear from this study
that the health-care system needs to address the issue of culturally congruent
care.