Predictive factors influencing health care behaviors of menopausal women in Mae Klong Subdistrict, Mueang Samut Songkhram District, Samut Songkhram Province

Abstract

Menopause is a stage of life marked by significant physical, psychological, and social changes that affect their health and quality of life. This study aims to investigate the predictive factors influencing the health behaviors of menopausal women in Mae Klong Sub-district, Mueang Samut Songkhram District, Samut Songkhram Province, through a cross-sectional research design. The sample consisted of 317 menopausal women aged 45 - 59 years, selected through stratified random sampling proportional to the population in each village. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and multiple regression analysis. The study found that the predictive factors influencing health behaviors of menopausal women included perceived susceptibility to disease (β = 0.355), perceived benefits of preventive health behaviors (β = 0.206), and cues to action for disease prevention (β = 0.256). These variables collectively predicted 58.40% of the health behaviors of menopausal women with statistical significance (R = 0.764, R² = 0.584, p-value < 0.001). The study recommends that relevant agencies incorporate these factors into developing health promotion models tailored to the local context. Emphasis should be placed on organizing activities or programs that enhance awareness of these issues to achieve sustainable health behavior changes. Additionally, further qualitative research is needed to gain a deeper understanding of the perspectives and health needs of menopausal women, which will be beneficial in developing healthcare models that better meet their requirements.