ABSTRACT
Osteoporosis threatens the aged population especially the menopausal women and can lead to life long disability and death. Appropriate knowledge and behavior have an important role in prevention of osteoporosis. In this study the knowledge, attitude and behavior of women regarding osteoporosis is assessed and compared in different age groups. This cross sectional study includes 390 women in reproductive, premenopausal and menopausal age groups who had come to Shariati hospital clinics and each had answered the designed questionnaire. The questionnaires were scored and analyzed. Women's knowledge, attitude and behavior were assessed and compared by X2 test in the three age groups and P < 0.05 was considered significant. 15 - 30% of women didn't know what osteoporosis is and in 380 of them attitude or behavior was not good. Education had a significant effect on knowledge of women in reproductive and premenopausal ages [P = 0.002, 0.04 respectively], but had no effect on their attitude or behavior. Age had a significant effect on knowledge and attitude [P = 0.001] but had no effect on behavior. Age had significant effect on the knowledge that exercise can prevent osteoporosis [P = 0.014] but not on attitude or behavior. Age had no effect on knowledge, attitude or behavior of daily calcium intake to prevent osteoporosis. [P = 0.123, 0.12, 0.153 respectively] 93% to 95% of women thought the risks of osteoporosis are less than cardiovascular disease or breast cancer. 15-30% of women didn't know what osteoporosis is. The total knowledge about osteoporosis was low. Although 22-75% of women younger than 54 years old had knowledge about the predisposing factors but their attitude or behavior was not good