Assessing Health Beliefs, Knowledge and Practices of Adolescent Girls Regarding Osteoporosis

Abstract

Background: Osteoporosis is a growing health problem in developing countries, especially in the Middle East. It causes a significant personal and societal impact and increases the burden on health care services. Aim of the Study: assess health beliefs, knowledge and practices of adolescent girls regarding osteoporosis. Subjects and Methods: Study design: descriptive design was utilized in this study. Setting: The study was conducted at schools of Mrs. Aisha, Secondary Girls Alqadima (Mohamed Gaber Qusla) and Secondary Girls Alhaditha in Beni-Suef city. Size: the sample composed of 130 adolescent girls chosen randomly through multistage sampling. Tools: Two tools were used in the study including: First tool: interviewing Questionnaire that assesses socio-demographic data, knowledge and reported practices regarding osteoporosis. Second tool: Osteoporosis Health Belief model Scale to assess beliefs of adolescence girls about osteoporosis. Results: the current study clarified that minority of the adolescent girls had satisfactory knowledge about disease and only 26.2% of the adolescent girls had adequate practice regarding the disease. As regards health beliefs the current study depicts that, more than half of the girls had negative beliefs regarding the disease. The current study represents that, there was highly significant positive correlation between total adolescent girls' knowledge about osteoporosis and their practices. Conclusions: Adolescent girls in the current study had lacked appropriate knowledge and practices regarding osteoporosis. Recommendation: Conducting and disseminating educational programs at various settings to reach all female's age group to increase their knowledge and practices regarding osteoporosis. Further researches in the area of contributing factors of osteoporosis among young adults to improve understanding and management.