Health Promoting Behaviors in a Population-Based Sample of Middle- Aged Women and Its Relevant Factors in Yazd, Iran

Objectives: this study is carried out with the aim of describing thepattern of health-promoting behaviors (hpbs) among middle-agedwomen and its relevant factors in iran as a muslim developing country.methods: in a cross-sectional study, 483 middle-aged women wereselected using cluster random sampling from yazd city in central iran.an adjusted persian version of health promoting lifestyle profile iiwas used for measuring hpbs. the demographic data were collectedtoo.results: the average score of middle-aged women hpbs was2.73 ± 0.36 (2.69 ± 2.76, %95). spiritual growth and physical activityhad the highest and the lowest score in hpbs' dimensions, respectively.hpbs had a positive significant correlation with age (p=0.02) and educationlevel (p=0.001) and a negative significant correlation with numberof children (p=0.005). hpbs had a higher level in retired womenthan employees and housewives.conclusions: in spite of a desirable level of hpbs in spiritual growthand interpersonal relationship dimensions among this group, their levelof hpbs in physical activity and health responsibility dimensions wasundesirable. it means that the feature of health among iranian middleagedwomen in a muslim developing country is different from the industrializeddeveloped and also the non-muslim countries; hence, theyneed a different intervention programs.