A Cross-Sectional Study of Postmenopausal Women's Clinical Profile, Lifestyle Perspectives, and Knowledge of Osteoporosis in Rural Tamil Nadu

Background

Osteoporosis represents a significant public health issue among postmenopausal women, particularly across developing nations where awareness and prevention efforts remain inadequate. The present research sought to evaluate the knowledge, perceptions, and preventive behaviors regarding osteoporosis among postmenopausal women, in addition to analyze the correlation of demographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors with osteoporosis knowledge.

Materials and Methods

A cross-sectional observational study was performed involving 141 postmenopausal women aged 45 years and older. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. It sought concerning factors like age, sex, race, and ethnicity, as well as clinical history, lifestyle habits, dietary practices, and knowledge about osteoporosis. Specific information on calcium and Vitamin D supplementation, physical activity, fracture history, and physician counseling was also obtained. We applied descriptive statistics and inferential analysis to find out if there was a correlation between osteoporosis knowledge and particular variables.

Results

Most of individuals who participated part were between the ages of 61 and 65, and numerous of them were overweight. A total of 88.65% of participants indicated they had experienced back or joint pain, and 84.39% reported that they had broken bones before. Only 7.8% of individuals exercised regularly, 28.36% took calcium supplements, and 24.11% consumed Vitamin D₃ supplements, so preventative therapies were not very common. Even though many individuals recognized that osteoporosis was a serious disease and were worried about the risk of fractures, their overall knowledge of how to prevent it was still only moderate. Educational progress, information from physicians, engagement in physical activity, and supplementation with calcium and Vitamin D exhibited significant correlations with elevated knowledge levels (p<0.05).

Conclusion

The study suggests that postmenopausal women are slightly aware of their problem, but they don't do sufficiently to prevent it. To reduce the risk of fractures and improve osteoporosis prevention in this group, it is important to strengthen community-based education, healthcare counseling, and changes in behavior.