Exploring Risk Factors for Osteoporosis from Kurdish-Iranian Women's Perceptions

Aim: By understanding women’s perceptions of the risk factors for osteoporosis, improved preventive programs can be designed to modify misconceptions and improve understanding of the condition. This study aimed to explore Kurdish-Iranian women’s perceptions of the risk factors for osteoporosis.
Sixteen women with osteoporosis referred to osteoporosis screening units at the private and governmental centers were interviewed through purposeful sampling between January and July 2015. Inclusion criteria included a diagnosis of osteoporosis for at least six months, T-score below -2.5, age 50 years and over, and ability to attend and participate in the study. All focus groups and face-to-face semi-structured interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis. To confirm precision of the data, the following criteria were employed: credibility, conformability, dependability and transformability.
Findings: Overall, the perceived risk factors were broadly classified into non-modifiable and modifiable factors. Non-modifiable factors included the sub-themes of genetic factors and hormonal changes. Modifiable factors comprised the sub-themes of limited legal and administrative systems, cultural-environmental and socio-economic factors, lack of understanding the disease and its treatment, and poor health priorities.
The risk factors for osteoporosis from women's perceptions can be classified into non-modifiable and modifiable factors. These results can be useful to design a gender-specific risk assessment tool and develop strategies and intervention programs for preventing osteoporosis in women.