A Survey on Knowledge of Osteoporosis and Attitude and Practice towards Precaution of Osteoporosis among University Students in Dhaka City

Abstract

Osteoporosis is the most common physiological disorder among the people in Bangladesh and worldwide. The main objective of this study was to find out the level of knowledge, the presence of risk factors, the habitual patterns regarding osteoporosis screening among mass students in different universities of Bangladesh. In this study, data was collected from 200 university students. Majority of them was graduate and other continuing their study, about 48% of them had no knowledge about osteoporosis, even they did not hear the name of that and 52% heard the term but lack of proper definition. This may be due to their ignorance in health knowledge. Moreover, 33% has family history, 28% has maternal history about osteoporosis. Those who know about osteoporosis they do not have any correct knowledge about the treatment and diagnosis procedure. A portion of them mentioned about few risk factors, that includes both controllable and uncontrollable risk factors. But some of were unaware of the disorders that affect the skeleton and only 24% are concerned about getting osteoporosis. Majority of people never (74%) discuss about Osteoporosis with their family and doctors, some do rarely or sometimes. Even with the doctors most of them never discuss, 30% do rarely, 18% do sometimes and only 8% of people do regular discussion about osteoporosis. Overall findings suggest that the knowledge about risk factors and protective factors and treatment among mass people concerning osteoporosis was relatively poor and needs to be improved. So, some steps should be taken by the authority with the help of professionals to make them aware of this physiological disorder.