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Collegium antropologicum, Vol. 33 Supplement 1 No. 1, 2009.

Original scientific paper

Who Empowers Women Towards Healthier Lifestyles? Example from Western Croatia

Ksenija Vitale ; »Andrija Štampar« School of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Aleksandar Džakula ; »Andrija Štampar« School of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Petra Šuljić ; County Institute for Public Health, Primorsko-Goranska County, Rijeka, Croatia
Goran Todorović ; General Practice Physician, Velika Gorica, Croatia
Silvije Vuletić ; »Andrija Štampar« School of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Ana Čović ; »Andrija Štampar« School of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

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Abstract

This article explores who among the doctors, other health care workers, family or somebody else most frequently advised women about their lifestyle changes related to cardiovascular health (including smoking, nutritional habits and physical activity). We analyzed who advised the most, in relation to the parameters important in the etiology of cardiovascular diseases: age, systolic blood pressure and body mass index (BMI). Sample was a part of comprehensive Croatian Adult Health Survey, comprised of women from Primorje-Goran, Istra and Lika-Senj Counties. Results indicated low frequency of advising on lifestyle changes in primary health care in all three counties, with most advice from general practitioners on nutritional habits. Family and other health care workers advised about smoking and nutrition and had strong influence in the youngest age groups. The GPs failure to counsel younger population and disease-free women could be regarded as the missed opportunity for avoidance of preventable risk factors that are associated with cardiovascular diseases. Other subjects in the health care process, as well as the family and media could fill the gaps between the patients and health care system messages. In order to create and develop such heterogeneous network approaches to training various programs and activities have to take into account all specific gender and regional characteristics.

Keywords

healthy lifestyle; women; cardiovascular diseases; Croatian Adult Health Survey; Croatia

Hrčak ID:

39745

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/39745

Publication date:

1.4.2009.

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