A STUDY ON NUTRITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND FOOD BEHAVIOR OF OSTEOPOROSIS AMONG WOMEN IN SHARKIA GOVERNORATE, EGYPT

The current study was conducted in order to assess nutritional knowledge and food behavior of osteoporosis among women in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt. Sources of information about osteoporosis and dietary intake of participants were also evaluated. This research was a descriptive-analytical study. Data was collected using a questionnaire that was distributed to 300 women from Sharkia Governorate (150 healthy women and 150 patients diagnosed with osteoporosis). Results estimated that the most of healthy women (39.33%) were between 24 < 40 years old. While (38.70%) were between 40 – 55 years old in patients. The highest percentage of educational level for healthy women was 44% (secondary school), whereas, in patients was 43.3% (bachelor). The largest proportion of healthy women and patients had family income from 2000 < 4000 LE per month. 66% of healthy women hadn't relative suffering from osteoporosis. 48% of patients had fractions. Also, the results indicated that there were statistically significant differences in healthy women and patients and their age, education, job, marital status, history of osteoporosis in the family, menstruation, fractures, calcium and vitamin D supplements and physical exercises. Television appear to play the main role for osteoporosis information for respondents. The highest percentage of participants had average level of general knowledge, knowledge of rick factors and knowledge of protective factors about osteoporosis. The majority of healthy women and patients (68 and 71.3%), respectively, had average level about food behavior. There were statically significant differences between participants (healthy women and patients) and levels of knowledge about general knowledge, protective factors and total knowledge for osteoporosis. Most of respondents who had average level of knowledge have high education level. Healthy women (30.3%) and patients (45.5%) who had average level of knowledge have fractures and this association is statically significant. The results showed that most of participants who had average level of food behavior, were from average level of total knowledge about osteoporosis and this association is statically significant. The results illustrated that the highest percentage of patients took less than recommended dietary allowance of macronutrients and micronutrients which are important to prevent osteoporosis. It can be concluded that the most of subjects had average level of knowledge and food behavior about osteoporosis, while, low percentage had high level. Therefore, the recommendions are the use of television programs to raise awareness for all people about the prevention of osteoporosis, more effort from doctors and healthcare providers to inform patients about preventing and treating from osteoporosis and  attention  the government  to this subject in its health policies and make more efforts to inform people especially women about osteoporosis.