Assessment of Awareness and Attitude of Men Over 40 Years Old in Mazar-i-Sharif Regarding Andropause
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55544/ijrah.5.6.23Keywords:
Awareness, Attitude, Andropause, Testosterone Hormone, Mazar-i-Sharif, AfghanistanAbstract
Introduction: Male menopause (testicular tissue atrophy or testosterone deficiency) is a condition where men experience a decrease in natural hormone levels as they age. However, the rate and intensity of this decline are slower and less pronounced compared to hormonal changes in women during menopause. These changes are sometimes referred to as andropause or male menopause. Andropause encompasses a collection of symptoms attributed to the gradual decrease in testosterone levels, including fatigue, mood changes, reduced libido, and erectile dysfunction.
Male menopause (andropause) is a natural aging process resulting from decreased testosterone production. As the population ages, andropause is becoming a significant health concern globally. Given the limited studies on andropause in Afghanistan and men's unfamiliarity with this concept, a study was conducted to assess the awareness and attitude of men over 40 years old in Mazar-i-Sharif regarding andropause.
Methodology: The present study was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted on 400 men over the age of 40. Sampling was performed using a cluster sampling method, and data were collected through a researcher-designed questionnaire. The data were then analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson correlation test, and regression analysis in SPSS version 18.
Findings: Based on the results of the study, the awareness of men regarding andropause was low, and their attitude towards it was negative. The mean awareness score of participants regarding andropause was significantly associated with age groups (p < 0.05), education level (p < 0.05), and occupation (p < 0.05). The mean attitude score towards andropause was significantly associated with age groups (p < 0.05) and occupation (p < 0.05), but not with education level (p > 0.05). According to Pearson correlation coefficient, there was a significant statistical relationship between the mean awareness score and the attitude score.
Conclusion: The awareness of men in Mazar-i-Sharif regarding andropause is low, and their attitude is negative, indicating a need for further education on andropause. Some individuals believed that menopause is exclusive to women.
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