Homepage > Research abstracts > The association between knowledge, attitudes and osteoporosis-related preventive behaviors of women from different ethno-cultural groups in Israel
The association between knowledge, attitudes and osteoporosis-related preventive behaviors of women from different ethno-cultural groups in Israel
Researchers: Ofer Emanuel Edelstein1, Orly Sarid1
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Background: One of the challenges of preventive medicine is providing services to diverse ethno-cultural groups. Only a few studies have assessed knowledge, attitudes, intentions and osteoporosis preventive health behaviors among women aged 60 or above.
Objectives: 1. To assess knowledge of osteoporosis.
2. To assess attitudes, intentions and behaviors towards osteoporosis preventive health behaviors among four ethno-cultural groups – Israeli natives (Jewish and Bedouin), immigrants from Ethiopia and FSU (Former Soviet Union).
3. To examine the relationships between knowledge, attitudes, intentions, and behaviors; and osteoporosis preventive health behaviors such as calcium intake, physical activities, bone density scan and vitamin D intake among women from four different ethnic cultures.
2. To assess attitudes, intentions and behaviors towards osteoporosis preventive health behaviors among four ethno-cultural groups – Israeli natives (Jewish and Bedouin), immigrants from Ethiopia and FSU (Former Soviet Union).
3. To examine the relationships between knowledge, attitudes, intentions, and behaviors; and osteoporosis preventive health behaviors such as calcium intake, physical activities, bone density scan and vitamin D intake among women from four different ethnic cultures.
Method: A cross sectional study was conducted in selected neighborhoods in the Negev region. One hundred women from each ethno-cultural group, aged 60 years and above were recruited (N=400) using quota sampling. Data was collected using structured questionnaires.
Findings: Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) demonstrated that among Israel native Jewish women and immigrants from Ethiopia the influence of knowledge on participation in physical activities was mediated by the perceived control, subjective norms and attitudes. Among Bedouin women and immigrants from FSU, the intention to participate in physical activity mediated the links between perceived control, subjective norms, attitudes and performance of physical activity.
Among all the women, knowledge directly influenced the intention to consume vitamin D and an actual performance of a bone density scan.
Among all the women, knowledge directly influenced the intention to consume vitamin D and an actual performance of a bone density scan.
Conclusions: Our findings might assist in evaluating the need for constructing strategies for promoting participation in osteoporosis health behaviors of individuals from different ethno-cultures background.
Recommendations: In order to assure the equity in health principles, we recommend developing community-based health promotion programs that will assist health professionals in improving adherence of heterogeneous ethno-cultural groups to recommended osteoporosis preventive practices.
Research number: R/32/2016
Research end date: 04/2019