Osteoporosis Knowledge and Related Health Behavior among Women in Jazan Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

INTRODUCTION: Osteoporosis is a systemic bone disease that can be prevented to some extent by awareness of its risk factors and related health behavior. The aim of this study was to collect information about knowledge and awareness of osteoporosis among women living in Jazan and to describe the type of food habits, sociodemographic characteristics, and other osteoporosis-related health behavior.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Self-administered questionnaires were used for data collection. The total participants were 546 women: 88 (16.1%) were health professionals and 458 (83.9%) non health professionals in the age range ≤20 to 50 years. Data collection was facilitated by a trained intern female doctor of dentistry whose task was to administer the distribution and collection of the questionnaires.

RESULTS: In total, 61.9% of health professionals and 54.3% of nonhealth professionals scored highly on knowledge of osteoporosis. The respondents of osteoporosis preventive food items were also highly knowledgeable with 50.6 and 52.6% of health and nonhealth professionals respectively. About 48.1% of health professional and 44.2% of nonhealth professional scored low on knowledge of osteoporosis behavior and attitude, vitamin supplements, and sunlight exposure. The age effect on osteoporosis knowledge was 33.8% in young age group and 30.7% in old age group.

CONCLUSION: Our study shows that Jazan women were highly knowledgeable and aware about osteoporosis and its related health behavior and that health professionals and nonhealth professionals were equally aware about osteoporosis-related health matters.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Awareness and preventive behavior of osteoporosis can prevent or slow the development of the disease.