Iran Journal of Nursing

  Background & Aim: Osteoporosis is one of the most common diseases in middle-aged and elderly women, that imposes high costs on family and society. Acquiring knowledge about factors related to this disease such as reproductive risk factors, could help health care professionals to prevent osteoporosis and provide better services.

  Material & Method: A cross-sectional study was performed to determine the related reproductive factors with osteoporosis on 500 women who were admitted to Iran University of Medical Sciences' Bone Densitometry Centers in 2006. Data was gathered by a questionnaire.

  Result: The study finding revealed that there were significant differences between the number of pregnancies, delivery mode, number of children, pregnancy intervals less than three years, frequency and duration of breastfeeding with osteoporosis (P<0.05).

  Also, there was a significant relationship between oral contraceptive pills, menopause situation and number of years after menopause with osteoporosis (P<0.05).

  The results of discriminant analysis showed that number of years after menopause was the most important related reproductive factors with incidence of osteoporosis, as number of children, menopause situation and pregnancy frequency were settled in other stages.

  Conclusion: According to the study findings and with consideration of osteoporosis complications such as disabilities and high mortality and morbidity rates, investigating and consideration of the related risk factors for prevention of this disease in the society was recommended.