Factors Affecting Rural Women s Health-Related Quality of Life in West Islam Abad Township

Today, Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) is an important indicator of development; However, due to the greater vulnerability, HRQOL level of women is lower than men, especially in rural regions. This problem has doubled the necessity to investigate and identify the factors affecting HRQOL. Given the importance of the issue, the purpose of this descriptive- correlative research was to study of effect of health-promoting lifestyle components on rural women’s HRQOL. The statistical population of the research consisted of all women in rural regions of West Islam Abad Township who their age ranged from 15 to 64 years old (N= 13835). According to the Bartlett et al. Table (2001), a sample size of 250 was selected using multiple stage sampling technique. The standard questionnaire was used to collect data. The results indicated that women’ s HRQOL had a positive and significant relationship with age, size of family, number of children and years of married life and negative and significant relationship with literacy level and time spent on daily sport activities. Also, the results showed that mean score of women’ s HRQOL differed significantly in terms of marital status, situation of head of household, having insurance and periodic medical examinations. Finally based on finding, six components of health-promoting lifestyle including nutrition management, social support, health responsibility, exercise, stress management and life appreciation explained 57 percent of variances of rural women’ s HRQOL.