Knowledge about osteoporosis among healthy women attending a tertiary care hospital.
BACKGROUND
To determinate the knowledge on osteoporosis-risk factors and disease in three age groups of Pakistani women.


METHODS
In this exploratory cross-sectional study, an osteoporosis knowledge assessment questionnaire (OKAT) was used to collect data and it was delivered through a face-to-face interview. Questions were asked about symptoms of osteoporosis, knowledge of risk factors, preventive factors and treatment. A convenience sample (n =320) comprising of three groups of healthy women aged 25-35 years, 36-45 years, and over 45 years was taken. The scoring range was 0 to 20. Among-group comparisions of means were analyzed by two-way ANOVA. To determine the overall influence of osteoporosis-risk factors, the multivariate analysis was used.


RESULTS
The knowledge on osteoporosis in younger women was very poor compared to relatively older females. However, women belonging to higher socioeconomic status and better education had slightly more knowledge about osteoporosis compared to those with a low education level, regardless of age.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of women had modest knowledge on osteoporosis. Younger women were at increased risk for low bone mass and premature osteoporosis.
Riaz
Mehmood
M
Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi.
Abid
Naushad
N
Patel
Junaid
J
Tariq
Muhammad
M
Khan
Muhammad Shoaib
MS
Zuberi
Lubna
L
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D010154:Pakistan; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health