Exercise Behaviors of Infertile Women at Risk of Osteoporosis: Application of the Health Belief and the Trans Theoretical Models

Aims: We aimed to investigate the association between health beliefs and exercise behavior in infertile women at risk of developing osteoporosis. Instrument Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in Sanandaj city, west of Iran, in 2018. Four hundred and eighty three infertile women were included in the study through convenience sampling from 35 comprehensive healthcare centers. Standardized face to face interviews were conducted using established and reliable instruments to assess exercise behavior and health beliefs. Data were analyzed by SPSS 22 using Logistic regression models, Chisquare, independent ttest, and Pearson correlations. Findings: Employed women compared to homemakers had substantially higher odds of adopting exercise behaviors (OR=3.19; 95% CI=1.536.66; p 0.01). Moreover, the odds of exercise behavior adoption increased with self efficacy (OR=1.35; 95% CI=1.21.52; p 0.01), and decreased with perceived barriers (OR=0.9; 95% CI=0.840.97; p 0.01). Conclusion: It is essential to increase perceived selfefficacy and reduce perceived barriers to promote exercise behaviors in infertile women. Consequently, health professionals should develop or adopt appropriate strategies to decrease barriers and increase self efficacy to enhance exercise behaviors in this group of women.