Health Beliefs and Cardiovascular risk factors
in postmenopausal women in Iran

Parvin Abedi¹, Mostafa Hosseini², Davood Shojaeezadeh³

ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine beliefs and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors of Iranian postmenopausal women.

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study based on baseline data of the clinical trial which tried to improve the CVD risk factors among the postmenopausal women. This study started on July 2007 and finished on May 2008. One hundred forty seven postmenopausal women where enrolled in the study, in whom menopause occurred at least one year ago and did not have any medical problem which required medication due to cardiovascular disease. These women came to the Central East clinic of Ahvaz (Iran). Their knowledge and perceptions toward CVD were assessed using 64 questions which were prepared according to the Health Belief Model (HBM). The physical activity of participants was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Anthropometric measurements of participants were measured. Biochemical tests were done using a fasting blood sample and in one reference laboratory.

Results: The mean age of menopause was 46.7 years. Most of participants had good knowledge about CVD (87.8%), but their attitude toward CVD risk factors were weak (40.2% of participants had good attitude). The average of energy expenditure per week among participants was 344.8 (SD=318.3) minute per week. Participants were at high risk for CVD because of their abnormal BMI (Mean: 30.4, SD: 5.61), waist circumference (Mean: 89.2, SD: 9.5), Cholesterol (Mean: 217.5, SD: 36.5) and HDL (Mean: 47.1, SD: 14.2). The mean 10 years risk estimation of CVD according to the Framingham risk assessment equation was 1.47.

Conclusion: Iranian post menopausal women need to receive effective educational programs to change their health beliefs toward cardiovascular disease (CVD).

KEY WORDS: Menopausal women, Health Belief, Cardiovascular disease.

Pak J Med Sci    April - June 2009 (Part-II)    Vol. 25 No. 3    453-457

How to cite this article:

Abedi P, Hosseini M, Shojaeezadeh D. Health Beliefs and Cardiovascular risk factors in postmenopausal women in Iran. Pak J Med Sci 2009;25(3): 453-457.

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1. Parvin Abedi,
Lecturer in Medical University of Gondishapor,
Ahwaz, Iran.
2. Mostafa Hosseini,
Associate Professor and lecturer,
3. Davood Shojaeezadeh,
Professor and Lecturer,
2-3: Medical University of Tehran, Iran.

Correspondence

Parvin Abedi,
13th East Kianpars Ave,
Karkeh St- No: 8. Ahwaz – Iran.
E-mail address: abedi_p@yahoo.com

* Received for Publication: October 28, 2008
* Accepted: April 15, 2009

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