[Evaluation of osteoporosis preventive factors in menopausal women referred to the health care centers of Ilam university of medical sciences in 2004]

ABSTRACT

Osteoporosis is a common metabolic bone disease that cause bone fracture. Menopause is the most important risk factors for osteoporosis. This disease is prevalent in menopausal women [50%] because of estrogen deficiency and less bone mass in menopausal period. The aim of this study was to determine the osteoporosis preventive factors in menopausal women referred to the health care centers of Ilam University of Medical Sciences. This research was an analytical-descriptive study, in which 150 menopausal women were selected by random sampling method as population of the study. The data were collected by interview, observation and physical examinations, using specific questionnaires and check lists. The data were analyzed by Chi-square and Fisher tests using SPSS software. The result of this study showed that%90 of the samples did not exercise,%92.7 have not consumed enough calcium and just%45.3 of the samples used to exposed in sunlight. These women also suffered from joint pain [%76.7], back pain [%47.3], and muscular weakness [%42.7]. In addition, our results showed that age [P<0.05], amount of calcium intakes in 24 hour [P<0.05], previous history of bone fracture in family [P<0.01], amount of vitamin D intakes [P<0.01] and steroid drugs [P<0.05] could have influences on osteoporosis intensity, but other variables did not show an influence on osteoporosis intensity [P>0.05]. The finding of this study showed a weak performance of menopausal women for preventing the risk factors causing osteoporosis. Thus, more training should be in considered for menopausal women to reduce osteoporosis among them