Assessment Health Promoting Behaviors in Women of Reproductive Age and Its Relationship with Social- Demographic s

Background: Health-promoting behaviors are one of the main determinative components of health in the prevention of many diseases. This study aimed to determine health-promoting behaviors and its relationship to socio-demographic variables on women of reproductive age.Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted on 330 women of reproductive age admitted to the selected primary health care centers in Qom city from March 2016 to July 2016. Data were collected using the health promoting lifestyle profile II (HPLP II) questionnaire and the socio-demographic characteristics and also were analyzed by SPSS with one-way ANOVA, post hoc, and multivariable linear regression.Results: The total HPLP-II mean score of women was 136.64±22.37. The highest score in the HPLP-II subscales of women was found for interpersonal relations subscale (26.43 ±4.21) and the lowest score for physical activity subscale (14.66 ±4.62). The educational level is a factor affecting subscales of health promoting behaviors except for health responsibility and interpersonal relations and also the sufficiency of income for expenses had significant association only with the nutrition subscale (p< 0.05).Conclusion: According to the low score of health-promoting behaviors, especially physical activity and stress management, it is recommended that the health policymakers adopt more strategies for health promotion in women of reproductive age since women have an important role in the development of communities.

Keywords:

health-promoting behaviors , socio-demographic characteristics , women of reproductive age