Food consumption behavior of menopausal women : case study at Tambon Na di, Muang District in Samut Sakorn Province

Abstract

The purpose of this study was: 1) to study personal attributes of menopausal women, 2) to study food consumption behavior of menopausal women and 3) to compare food consumption behavior of menopausal women : case study at Tambon Na di, Muang district in Samut Sakhon province, that classified according to the personal attributes such as age, marital status, education level, occupation, average income of family per month, body mass index (BMI) and personal disease. The population was menopausal women of 1,274 people. They had the ages between of 50-60 years those were living in Tambon Na di, Muang district in Samut Sakhon province. Using the method of Multi-stage sampling that classified by proportion of menopausal women and age in accordance with criteria of Taro Yamane (1973), had sample groups of 222 people but the sample groups were actually used as 225 people. The use of tool in this research was a questionnaire. The statistics used to data analysis was the frequency value, percentage, mean, standard deviation, t-test and F-test for comparison of food consumption behavior with personal attributes of menopausal women and tested the difference by pair samples using Least Square Difference (LSD) that analyzed the data with computer program. The results were found: 1) most of menopausal women group that had the ages between of 50-55 years, marital status was married, graduated in primary education level, worked as employee that had average income of family per month between of 5,001-10,000 Bath, had a normal standard of the BMI value and most people did not have personal disease. 2) menopausal women had food consumption behavior, classifying by number of meals found that had food consumption behavior at breakfast, lunch and dinner in the maximum level and consumed in time for supper in the minimum level. A type of food consumption such as fish, rice, green vegetables, fresh fruit and soybean oil, they cooked by boiling and deep frying method in high level, they cooked a flavorless food in moderate level. 3) menopausal women with personal attributes as occupation and average income of family per month had differed, there was food consumption behavior that had statistically significant differences level at 0.05. Personal attributes as age, marital status, education level, BMI and personal disease were differed. There was food consumption behavior that had not statistically significant difference level at 0.05.