Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Departments of Health Services and Health Education, School of Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran,
2 Autoimmune Diseases Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, 3 Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Health, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Through self‑care, people can solve their health‑related problems through increasing
their awareness and correcting their lifestyles.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the association of self‑care status with some relevant factors in
Kashanian middle‑aged women in their early menopausal stage.
METHODS: This is a cross‑sectional study on 351 women in the age range of 45–60 years. Women
were selected based on cluster sampling method from the individuals at health‑care centers in
Kashan, Iran. Researcher‑constructed questionnaire on self‑care was used. The validity and the
reliability of the questionnaire were calculated. The information gathering method was questionnaire
completion by the study participants or interview with them. Collected data were analyzed with SPSS
16 software. T‑test, ANOVA, Spearman correlation, and linear regression analysis were applied.
RESULTS: The mean (±standard deviation) of the self‑care score was 108.14 ± 20.43. Self‑care
scores were weak in 13.92%, intermediate in 71.02%, and good in 15.06%. Regression analysis
showed that the mean of self‑care was significantly higher in those with higher educational level of
women’s (P = 0.045) and their spouses (P = 0.001). Women who were covered by insurance also
showed higher self‑care; in addition, there was no significant relationship between self‑care and
participants’ job, spouses’ jobs, marital status, marital satisfaction, economic satisfaction, number
of children, number of households, and type of accommodation (P > 0.05).
CONCLUSION: The results indicate that self‑care is inadequate and that the level of education of
couples and insurance coverage has a positive effect on the level of self‑care in postmenopausal
women. To promote self‑care in old age, education and empowerment can be considered.
Keywords
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