Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Abstract BACKGROUND: Menopause is one of the developmental stages of women. One of the most common
problems during this period is sleep disorders. Sleep disorders can affect the quality of life of these
people. To improve sleep disorders, auriculotherapy has received less attention due to its low cost
and effectiveness, and side effects. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of
auriculotherapy on improving sleep quality in postmenopausal women aged 45–60 years.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study is a clinical trial study that was performed on
82 postmenopausal women aged 45–60 years under the auspices of health centers in Mahshahr
city, Iran from 2021–2022. Women with inclusion criteria were randomly divided into two groups
(intervention and control). The intervention group underwent auriculotherapy for 4 weeks. The St.
Petersburg Sleep Quality Questionnaire was completed by both groups at the beginning and 4 weeks
after the start of the intervention. Finally, the data were analyzed by SPSS software version 22 and
independent t‑test, paired t‑test and Chi‑square test.
RESULTS: At the beginning of the study, both groups were homogeneous in terms of demographic
variables. The results of data analysis using independent t‑test showed that before the intervention,
mental quality (P = 0.513), length of incubation period (P = 0.285), sleep duration (P = 0.121), sleep
efficiency (P=0.513), sleep disorders (P=0.685), use of sleeping pills (P=0.530), daily functioning(P=0.60),
and overall sleep quality score (P = 0.30) in the control and intervention groups were not statistically
significant.However, comparing the mean scores afterthe interventionin the control and interventiongroups
showed that mental quality (P < 0.001), incubation period (P < 0.001), sleep duration (P < 0.001), sleep
efficiency (P < 0.001), sleep disorders (P < 0.001), use of hypnotics (P=0.002), daily functioning (P=0.001),
overall sleep quality score (P < 0.001), sleep duration (P = 0.822), sleep efficiency (P = 0.889), sleep
disorders (P = 0.889), use of sleeping pills (P = 1.00), daily performance (P = 0.767), overall sleep quality
score (P = 0.69) were statistically significant between the two groups. In‑group comparison using paired
t‑test in the control group showed that mental quality (P = 0128), length of the incubation period (P = 1.00),
and before and afterthe intervention did not differ significantly in the mean scores. However, a within‑group
comparison in the intervention group showed that mental quality (P < 0.001), incubation period (P < 0.001),
sleep duration (P < 0.001), sleep efficiency  (P < 0.001), sleep disorders (P = 0.003), use of sleeping
pills (P = 0.007), daily functioning (P < 0.001), and overall sleep quality score (P < 0.001) before and after
the intervention had a significant difference in the mean scores.
CONCLUSION: The results showed that auriculotherapy has significant effectiveness in improving the
quality of sleep, and its dimensions and can be used as an effective method in this area that can be
implemented at a low cost and easily. According to reports from participants and previous studies in this
field, auriculotherapy did not have any side effects and can be used as a safe way to improve sleep quality.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Globally, 30% of female over 50 years old have osteoporosis. This disease is one
of the major causes of disability and death in the elderly. This research was aimed to determine
the prevalence of primary osteoporosis and low bone density based on bone mineral density in
postmenopausal women and its sociodemographic, obstetric, and life style risk factors.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was performed by
simple random sampling on 850 postmenopausal women aged 50–65 years covered by all health
centers, from August 2018 to April 2019, in Tabriz-Iran. Four hundred and forty-five eligible women
underwent densitometry using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in the lumbar spine and femoral
neck. Socio-individual, obstetric-medical, international physical activity questionnaires-short form,
and anthropometric questionnaires were completed. Data analyzed using descriptive and analytical
statistics including multivariate logistic regression in SPSS 21 software.
RESULTS: The prevalence of primary osteoporosis based on lumbar vertebra T-score, femoral
neck T-score, and total was 23.4%, 3.4%, and 24.5%, respectively, and the prevalence of primary
osteopenia based on lumbar vertebra T-score, femur neck T-score, and total was 42%, 35.5%, and
43.6%, respectively. The present study showed that the odds of osteoporosis increased by increment
of age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07–1.30), but it decreased by increasing
menopausal age (OR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.85–1.01), body mass index (OR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.78–0.97),
arm circumference (OR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.74–0.95), and education level (P = 0.028). It was higher in
unmarried women (OR: 2.65; 95% CI: 0.99–7.08) and those with nonpersonal housing (OR: 4.02;
95% CI: 1.24–13.07).
CONCLUSIONS: Given the high prevalence of primary osteoporosis and low bone mass in postmenopausal
women, health education is necessary for preventing modifiable risk factors and reducing the complications
of this disease.