The experiences of women of reproductive age regarding health-promoting behaviours: A qualitative study

BMC Public Health

Sakineh Mohammad-Alizadeh Charandabi³  Eesa Mohammadi¹  Mojgan Mirghafourvand³  Azam Baheiraei² 

[1] Department of Nursing, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran;Center for Community-Based Participatory Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran;Midwifery Department, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

关键词: Qualitative study;    Women of reproductive age;    Experience of health promoting behaviours;   

Others  :  1163402
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2458-12-573

 received in 2011-11-15, accepted in 2012-07-13,  发布年份 2012

【 摘 要 】

Background

Health promotion is critical for community and family health. Health-promoting behaviours provide solutions for maintaining and promoting health. Although several studies have addressed the frequency and different types of health-promoting behaviours in women, little information is available about their experiences. This study aimed to explore the experiences of women of reproductive age regarding health-promoting behaviours.

Methods

In the present study, which was conducted in Tehran, Iran, 15 females, who were selected purposefully, participated in individual in-depth, semi-structured interviews. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using conventional content analysis.

Results

Nine main categories were derived from the analysis, including establishing an appropriate eating pattern, establishing a balanced rest/activity pattern, spirituality, stress management, personal sensitivity and responsibility, establishing an appropriate pattern of social interactions, practicing safe and healthy recreations, feeling improvement in physical-functional health, and feeling improvement in emotional and psychological health. The first 7 categories represent the nature and types of real health-promoting behaviours in women of reproductive age, whereas the last 2 constitute feeling and understanding of the implementation of these behaviours.

Conclusion

The study findings show that the women experience improvement in physical-functional, emotional, and psychological health by implementing health-promoting behaviours. It is therefore necessary to introduce strategies in the context of the community culture for improving different aspects of health-promoting behaviours in women of reproductive age to maintain and improve their overall health.

【 授权许可】

   
2012 Baheiraei et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

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