Beyond the Silence: Understanding Menopause among Urban Poor Women in the Philippines Through Health Beliefs and Social Capital

Abstract

Menopause is a natural biological process experienced by all women, yet for many in impoverished communities, it remains a silenced and marginalized health concern. This study explores the lived experiences of menopausal women in one of the depressed districts Cebu City, Philippines, an urban poor community where poverty, cultural stigma, and limited healthcare access intersect. Using the Health Belief Model (HBM) and Social Capital Theory (SoCap) as guiding frameworks, the research analyzes how sociocultural beliefs, health literacy, and community networks shape the way these women perceive, experience, and cope with menopause. Findings from surveys, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions with 15 purposively selected women aged 40 to 65 reveal alarmingly low awareness of menopause-related health risks. Most participants exhibited little to no knowledge of conditions like osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, or depression, which are commonly linked to menopause. Key barriers included financial constraints, inaccessibility of health services, low education levels, and cultural interpretations such as “patoo-too” (cultural beliefs) that discourage medical help-seeking. Despite these challenges, strong bonding social capital emerged as a vital resource. Women relied heavily on informal support networks, family, friends, and shared neighborhood spaces, for emotional comfort, advice, and culturally embedded coping practices like massage, conversation, and communal thrift shopping. The study concludes that menopause in marginalized communities is not only a biological transition but a deeply socioeconomic and cultural struggle, often rendered invisible in both public health policy and reproductive health discourse. It calls for community-based, culturally sensitive interventions, the inclusion of menopausal health in local policies, and capacity-building for barangay health workers. By surfacing silenced narratives and informal resilience practices, this research reframes menopause as a public health and social justice issue, advocating for the empowerment and visibility of midlife women in urban poor settings.