A Study of Middle-Aged Women's Health Beliefs and Their Intention to Practice Health Behaviors to Prevent and Improve Hypertension / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate factors related to middle-aged women's health beliefs and their intention to practice health behaviors for preventing and improving hypertension. METHODS: The participants were 319 middle-aged(40-59 years) women who lived G city. Data was collected from January to February, 2005. Personal interviews were performed. The data was analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe's multiple comparison test and hierarchial multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Perceived susceptibility of health belief was high in those who had higher educational level, disease history and health education experience, significantly(p<0.05). Perceived seriousness was high in those who had higher educational level, middle economic status and health education experience, significantly(p<0.05). Perceived benefits was high in those who had higher educational level and perceived barriers was low in those who had disease history and hypertension, significantly(p<0.05). The subject's intention to practice health behaviors was significantly high in those who were younger, who had higher educational level and menopausal status(p<0.05). In hierarchial multiple regression analysis, the subject's intention was related to perceived seriousness, perceived benefit and educational level, significantly(p<0.05). CONCLUSION: It is necessary to develope the education programs which can increase the subject's health belief and intention to practice health behaviors towards hypertension in middle-aged women.

The Prevalence Rate of Fatty Liver and Its Risk Factors of Adult Women in a Rural Area / 한국역학회지

PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence rate of fatty liver disease and its related factors of women in rural area. METHODS: Seven hundreds and fifty four adult females (above age 30) at eleven Community Health Centers in Koryung County were recruited from 3 March 2001 to 30 May 2001. Abdominal ultrasonography, height, weight, and blood pressure were measured. A questionnaire interviewing method was used to collect life style data. RESULTS: The prevalence of fatty liver disease was 13.4%. By simple analysis, age(p<0.05), diabetes mellitus(p<0.01), salt intake(p<0.05), and obesity (p<0.01) were significantly associated with fatty liver disease. In multiple logistic regression analysis, the risk for fatty liver in above 50 age group was 2.7 (95% CI: 1.25-5.99) times higher than that in 30-49 age group, overweight was 10.3 (95% CI: 5.26-19.99) times higher than normal group, 3.9 times (95% CI: 1.84-8.38) higher in person with diabetes mellitus than those without and the risk of current drinkers was 2.0 times (95% CI: 1.03-3.85) higher than non-drinkers. CONCLUSION: Above findings suggested that risk factors significantly related with fatty liver were age, BMI, diabetes mellitus, and drinking in adult women.

Bone Mineral Density and Related Factors of Postmenopausal Women / 한국역학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of osteoporosis and to identify the related factors of bone mineral density (BMD) in rural postmenopausal women. METHODS: Three hundred ninety postmenopausal women in a rural area were examined in 1999 Their BMDs of the lumbar spine (L1-L3) were measured by a quantitative computerized tomography (QCT) and their height and weight were measured. A questionnaires interviewing method was used to collect risk factor data. PESULTS: The prevalence of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women of 40-69 years old was 89.2% by reference value of UCSF(University of California, Sanfrancisco), however, changed to 63.1% by that of Korean. From simple analyses, age(p<0.01), duration after menopause (p<0.01), menstrual regularity(p<0.05), delivery frequencies (p<0.01), breast feeding years (p<0.01), alcohol intake(p<0.01), and smoking(p<0.05) were significant risk factors relating to BMD. In multiple linear regression analysis, duration after menopause(p<0.01), menstrual regularity(p<0.05), and breast feeding years (p<0.05) proved to be significant risk factors. However dietary factors and life style were not significantly associated with BMD. CONCLUSIONS: The significant risk factors of postmenopausal women in a rural area relating to BMD were duration after menopause, menstrual regularity, and breast feeding duration.

The Effect of Vitamin Supplementation on Cognitive Function in the Elderly / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the effects of an oral vitamin supplementation on cognitive function in the elderly, 254 elderly people(experiment group) who were received an oral vitamin supplement for one-year was compared with 292 elderly who were treated as the control group in Koje city during the study period(from February 1997 to March 1998). METHODS: The cognitive function was tested by mini-mental state examination Korea(MMSE-K). Multiple regression analysis was done to control other confounding variables such as gender, age, educational level, smoking, alcohol, a past 15-day medical history, satisfaction for living cost, family number, cognitive function of the baseline survey. RESULTS: In the baseline survey, the prevalence of cognitive impairment was 31%(mild impairment 12.5% and severe impairment 18.5%). There was a significant difference(0.76) in cognitive change in the elderly between two groups, 0.68 improved in the experiment group and 0.08 worsen in the control group(p<0.01). In multiple regression analysis, the significant variables were an oral vitamin supplementation, a past 15-day medical history, family number, cognitive function of baseline survey(p<0.05). The improvement of cognitive function was observed in those who do not have a past 15-day medical history, have a large family number, and have a low cognitive function of the baseline survey. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that an oral vitamin supplementation was effective in improving the cognitive function in the elderly and more effective in the cases with abnormal cognitive function.