Original Article HEALTH BELIEFS AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN IN IRAN

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 abnorma