Health Belief Model for Prevention of Osteoporosis among Adolescent Girls

Abstract

Background: Osteoporosis is a current silent epidemic disease of high importance due to its high prevalence and complications among women.it is a preventable disease whose high risk population includes adolescent girls. Aim of the Study: Evaluate the effect of applying health belief model on prevention of osteoporosis among adolescent. Subjects and Methods: Research design: Quasi experimental study design (one group pre and post-test) was conducted for this study. Setting: The study was conducted at schools of Mrs. Aisha, Secondary Girls Alqadima (Mohamed Gaber Qusla) and Secondary Girls Alhaditha in Beni-Suef city. Study subjects: The sample composed of 130 adolescent girls chosen randomly through multistage sampling. Tools: Two tools were used in the study including: First tool: Interviewing Questionnaire that assesses socio-demographic data, knowledge and practices regarding osteoporosis. Second tool: Osteoporosis Health Belief model Scale to assess beliefs of adolescent girls about osteoporosis. Results: Revealed that, 16.9% of the adolesent girls had satisfactory knowledge about disease pre implementation of health belief model which improved to 93.8% post implementation of health belief model, there was also 26.2% of adolescent girls had adequate practices regarding disease pre implementation of health belief model, which improved to 73.8% post implementation of health belief model and 46.2 % of them had positive beliefs regarding disease pre implementation of health belief model. Conclusions: The knowledge and reported practices of adolescent girls about osteoporosis improved after implementing the educational program through applying health belief model. Recommendation: Applying health belief model on wide range of female's age group.