Promoting People's Awareness and Health Literacy about Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis, which is known as a silent epidemic, the most common bone disease in humans, representing a major public health problem worldwide. At least, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men over the age of 50 will suffer a fracture resulting by weak bones impacting the quality of life and the independence of millions of people. Osteoporosis is considered a health problem in the Middle East countries including Iran. The level of awareness about osteoporosis among people and health care professionals are estimated not enough in many countries. Considering the importance of awareness about prevention and self-care behaviors of osteoporosis and in order to promote people's health literacy about this issue, the World Osteoporosis Day (WOD) was launched on October 20 International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF). The WOD marks the launch of a year-long campaign to raising health literacy and awareness of the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis and metabolic bone disorder. It aims at putting bone health on the global health agenda and reaching out to policymakers, health providers and experts, the media, and the public. These campaigns involve patient societies around the world and have played an important role in raising public health literacy and awareness of bone health and the importance of preventing osteoporosis and fracture. Despite recording WOD in Iranian official calendar and public awareness programs regarding the prevention, self-care, diagnosis, and management of osteoporosis and fragility fractures of it in our country, they need to be strengthened.