EFFECT OF PEER EDUCATION IN ORDER TO BRING POSITIVE HEALTH BEHAVIORS FORCLIMACTERIC WOMEN

Objective: this research was conducted in order to bring positive health behaviors forclimacteric women by means of peer education.methods: this study of pretest-posttest semi experiment design, performed in the city centerbetween the dates of september 2010 and june 2013. study group consisted of 368 womenbetween 40-65. data were collected through face-to-face interview method by peer educators bymeans of the survey form prepared in accordance with literature. the survey was designed withopen and close-ended questions defining menopausal complaint, healthy life style behaviors andearly diagnosis. education was given after the pretest application by 15 women who attended thepeer education and then posttest was performed at the end of six months. before the study,required permissions were taken from related agencies and institutions, and also from the studygroup in words. data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, mcneamar and friedman test inspss 10.0 suit program.conclusion: after the peer education it was found that exercise ratio increased to 64,7% from62%, smoking ratio decreased to 28,3% from 31,3%; pap smear having ratio increased to 65,2%from 58,4%, kkmm ratio increased to 85,3% from 75,6%,mammography ratio increased to 67,6%from 63,4%, kmy measurement increased to 56,8% from 51,9%. also, hot flush increased to 53%from 51,4%, night sweating to 66,3% from 63,3%, headache to 60,9% from 57,9%, nervousness andagitation to 42,2% from 38,3,arthralgia to 44,85% from 41,6%, myalgia to 48,6% from 45,9%,weight gain to 52,7% from 47%, constipation to 73,1% from 67,4%, painful micturation to 92,7%from 89,9%), tachycardia to 66,8% from 59,2%, insomnia to 63,9% from 62,5% and fatigueincreased to 44,6%) from 41,3%.results: peer educations may contribute to positive health behaviors for women in climactericperiod. it is suggested for researchers to reproduce the same subject with studies havingrandomised control croups.