Abstract

1Quasim B. N, Hassan K. Saad and Zaghloul Farid Amin*

Osteoporosis is a silent disease that causes bones to become thin, weak, and fragile bones. It is increase the risk for broken bones. Osteoporosis prevention have several aspects including health education, nutrition, exercise, lifestyle modification, and early screening. The aim of the study are to assess the adult women level of knowledge and perception about the risk factors for osteoporosis and to evaluate the influence of organized health education sessions on women knowledge and perception about osteoporosis. Aquasi-experimental design was adopted. A total of 230 women were recruited from four settings in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Three tools were used to collect the data; 1)-Structured interviewing questionnaire 2)-knowledge assessment questionnaire nd 3)-Perception assessment questionnaire. Three health education sessions per week two days interval were done. It included definition, statistics, side effects of osteoporosis; risk factors; symptoms, diagnosis and treatment; emphasis on preventive factors especially the role of foods containing calcium and physical activity; calculation of daily calcium intake; and exercises promoting bone density. The mean age of the sample was 32.96 ± 12.2 years old. More than ninety two percent of them were working. Before the educational session, more than eighty percent of the participants had poor level of knowledge compared to only 20.4% during post test with statistical difference between pre and post test (t= 18.7 P<0.001). In addition, 26.5% of the women perceived osteoporosis as dangerous disease such as cancer. While more than forty percent of them perceived the benefits of physical activity and its importance in developing a strong bone. Educational sessions improved the women level of knowledge and perception regarding osteoporosis risk factors, modified life style, and early detection for osteoporosis. Enhance educational sessions to encourage healthy lifestyle for young women. Also repeated educational sessions about prevention should be offered in different settings in Saudi Arabia