Survey of osteoporosis preventive behaviors among women in Fasa: The Application of the Health Belief Model and Social Cognitive Theory

Investigating factors affecting the adoption of preventive behaviors in women with osteoporosis using patterns that identify the effective factors which influence and reinforce on behavior is necessary. This study aims to evaluate the preventive behaviors of osteoporosis in women in Fasa using the health belief model and social cognitive theory.
In this Descriptive- Analytical ,cross-sectional study, 401 women 30 to 50 years covered by health centers in Fasa were chosen. Scale factors for health belief model structures (perceived susceptibility, severity, threat, benefits, barriers and self-efficacy, practice guidelines) and the structure of
self-regulation, social protection of social cognitive theory, and questionnaire of functional feeding and walking were determined to prevent osteoporosis in women. The data were analyzed using SPSS 16 software.
The average age of women was 40/9± 6/2 years. The variables of perceived susceptibility, motivation, social support and self-regulation for walking behavior and variables of perceived sensitivity and self-regulation for feeding behavior were predicted. There was a significant association between walking performance and perceived susceptibility (B=0.252 ,p=0/007), motivation (B=0.235 ,p=0.009), social support (B=0.078 ,p=0.030) and Self-regulation (B=0.105 ,p=0.007). In this study, there was a significant association between nutritional performance and perceived susceptibility (B=0.10,p=0.02), self-regulation (r=0.069 ,p=0.050). The variables under study expressed 29/1% of the variance in walking behavior and 20/2% of the variance in feeding behavior in osteoporosis prevention.
The study indicated that perceived susceptibility, motivation, self-regulation and social support, otherwise more people might have osteoporosis preventive behaviors better .Health Belief Model and Social Cognitive Theory can be used as a framework for designing and implementing educational interventions for the prevention of osteoporosis in women and can help to improve and maintain their health.