Abstract
BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a common complication of aging and menopause. Self-care and health literacy are among the factors affecting health status. The purpose of this research was to determine the preventive roles of self-care behaviors and health literacy in older women with osteoporosis. METHODS: This cross‑sectional analytical research was conducted on 250 postmenopausal women consisting of 125 osteoporotic and 125 healthy people aged 60-70. They were selected by purposive sampling in Tabriz Sina Hospital from September 2021 to December 2021. Data collection instruments were a demographic questionnaire, a Menopausal Self‑Care Questionnaire, and a European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS 23 software. RESULTS: The mean (SD) total score of self-care in healthy women was 118.97 (19.92) and in women with osteoporosis was 84.7 (14.98) (p < 0.001). Also, healthy women all had sufficient health literacy (100%), but 52.8% of women with osteoporosis had insufficient health literacy. The odds of osteoporosis decreased significantly with the rise in the total score of self-care behaviors [Odds ratio 95% confidence interval (95% CI); p: 0.909 (0.880 to 0.939); p < 0.001] and its subdomains as well as with increasing health literacy level [OR (95% CI); p: 0.322 (0.266 to 0.383); p < 0.001]. There was a significant positive correlation between self-care behaviors and health literacy (r = 0.616, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Self-care in aged women is particularly important in reducing the risk of osteoporosis, and empowering women in the field of health literacy is an important factor in improving self-care behaviors and ultimately the health of these people.