OCCUPATIONAL GROUPS OF WOMEN AND SELECTED NUTRITIONAL RISK-FACTORS FOR OSTEOPOROSIS

This paper studies the prevalence of risk factors considered responsib le for osteoporosis in women of 4 occupational groups: farmers, blue c ollar workers, white collar workers/civil servants and housewives. We analyzed nutritional factors associated with osteoporosis in the scien tific literature. The total sample comprises of 2185 individuals of wh ich 658 women were taken into the analyses. The data set was based on a health survey conducted in 10 selected rural communities of Styria i n Austria between 1995 and 1996. Sociodemographic data, lifestyles, in ternal and external resources as well as indicators off ill-health wer e surveyed through standardized personal interviews. The results show that the women of the 4 occupational groups were differently strained regarding nutritional risk factors. Our results suggest that efficient intervention programs to prevent osteoporosis need to specifically fo cus on the various life contexts of women.