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 specific programme or mechanism to provide for this, they show an increased use 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 (Cádiz, Andalusía, Spain) on a sample of climacteric women who attended the Health Centre during 1995, examines these points and shows a significantly higher use of the health services in relation to the rest of the female population (those who are not in the climacteric age group) as well as a high percentage of referrals (74.6%) to specialists. It was found that both the level of knowledge about the climacteric and the use of the health services were influenced by the educational level (p < 0.001) and age (p < 0.05). Women who felt that their families provided an understanding and supportive attitude were found to have less psychological problems and, consequently, less consultations and referrals for this reason (p < 0.00001). The authors hope that their findings will provide a basis for the setting up of a programme of integral health care for climacteric women at the level of primary health care. With careful planning and the drawing up of a strategic plan, it would be possible to provide for the needs of this population group in a more satisfactory way, and it would also permit a rationalization of the resources available.