ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to analyze the factors affecting health education program needs as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) for promoting health in middle-aged women. METHODS: Study subjects included 203 middle-aged women ranging in ages between 40 and 59 years, living in S-city. Data were collected from September 10 to 24, 2011. Descriptive statistics, independent t-test, and one-way ANOVA were used to analyze general characteristics and the need for health education programs related to the general characteristics. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to access the factors influencing the need for health education programs. All data were analyzed by SPSS/WIN 17.0 program. RESULTS: The average score of the health promotion behaviors was 3.46 (+/-0.74). The average score of the need for health education programs (including physical, psychological, and social health education programs) was 3.88 (+/-0.13); and this was affected by age (psychological health education programs beta=-0.21), self-actualization (physical, psychological, social health education programs beta=0.28, beta=0.30, beta=0.30), health responsibility (social health education programs beta=0.21), interpersonal support (physical health education programs beta=0.18), and stress management (social health education programs beta=0.18). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the study results, health education for middle-aged women should be impacted less by monthly income and educational background, and should have more specialized, accessible contents considering not only programs that middle-aged women prefer but also the factors influencing the needs of health education.