Determinants of osteoporosis prevention in low-income Mexican-American women.
BACKGROUND
Prevention is the most cost-effective means of managing osteoporosis. However, little is known about osteoporosis-related preventive practices in Mexican-American women. We examined factors that might influence women's decision to start preventive measures for osteoporosis.


METHODS
Information was gathered through a cross-sectional survey of low-income Mexican-American women who were seen at two clinics in southern Texas.


RESULTS
Of the 270 participants, 37% reported calcium supplementation, and 41% reported regular weight-bearing exercise to prevent osteoporosis. Fifty (41%) of the postmenopausal women were currently using hormone replacement therapy. Only 15% of the premenopausal and 13% of the postmenopausal women recalled that their health care provider had counseled them about prevention. Multivariate analysis showed that public education, bone densitometry evaluation, knowledge of osteoporosis, and counseling were determinants of prevention.


CONCLUSIONS
Although osteoporosis is a preventable condition, our findings suggest that the majority of Mexican-American women do not receive adequate preventive measures or counseling about osteoporosis. Furthermore, we found that their health care provider's counseling about osteoporosis was a major determinant of osteoporosis prevention in these women.
Orces
Carlos H
CH
Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. orces@uthscsa.edu
Casas
Carlos
C
Lee
Shuko
S
Garci-Cavazos
Rogelio
R
White
William
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D037001:Directive Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D017058:Mexican Americans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011203:Poverty / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013781:Texas