Healthy Behaviours and Educational Needs among Turkish Women: A School-Based Study

Abstract

The present descriptive study was planned to be the first stage of a school-based programme towards promoting healthy behaviours in Turkish women after determining their healthy behaviours and their need for relevant education. The sample was composed of 468 mothers of students attending an elementary school located in the city of Istanbul. The data were obtained during interviews and using two separate questionnaires. The Health Promotion Model formed the basis for the questionnaires describing healthy behaviours. The mean age was 34.6 ± 0.5 and 10.9% of the participants were illiterate. They generally were in middle-income families and 41.5% had at least one chronic disease. The participants were found to have poor behaviours pertaining to exercising, eating habits, and weight control. The majority (88%) did not exercise regularly. Chronic diseases were found to be the factor with the largest impact (OR: 1.87, 95%, CL=1.908–2.515). The participants pointed out that they would especially like to be educated on how to control their weight. The researchers have appended a programme devised for women regarding exercising, eating habits and weight control