Relationship Between Menopausal Symptoms, Cancer Screening Behaviors, and Religion Attitudes of Women in the Climacteric Period: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Although it is known that religion is used to cope with health problems, there is a lack of information about the effect of religion on menopausal symptoms and cancer screening attitudes of climacteric women. Aim: This study was conducted to determine the relationship between the religious attitudes of women in the climacteric period and their attitudes toward menopausal symptoms and cancer screening. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 381 women in the climacteric period in the Central Anatolia region of Türkiye. Data collection form, the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), OK-Religious Attitude Scale (ORAS), and attitude for cancer screening (short form) (ASCS) were used to collect data. Correlation analysis assessed the relationship between MRS, ORAS, and ASCS. Results: There was a low positive correlation between women’s ORAS mean score (35.19 ± 4.80) and MRS mean score (12.68 ± 7.24) (r = 0.284, P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant relationship between the mean ORAS scores of the women and the mean ASCS scores (64.59 ± 10.47) (r = 0.089, P > 0.05). Conclusion: Women who experienced more severe menopausal symptoms had stronger religious attitudes. Women’s religious attitudes did not affect their attitudes toward cancer screening. It is therefore recommended that health professionals organize counseling and training activities to protect and improve the health of menopausal women and increase their participation in screening and treatment programs.