Evidence has accumulated for a link between the adequacy of lifetime calcium intake,
and osteoporosis. Osteoporosis increases in prevalence with age and is of concern as it
results in irreversible and debilitating effects. The result has been an increased
recognition of the need to survey the consumption patterns of foods that contribute to
calcium intake levels in Australia, the focus being milk and milk products.. A better
understanding of calcium intake in women and the factors influencing it across the lifespan
is of increasing importance as the longevity of Australian women continues to
increase. Without preventive measures the costs incurred in managing osteoporosis will
continue to escalate.
An understanding of women's food behaviour is important if calcium intake levels in
women are to effectively increase. A self administered questionnaire assessed the
calcium intake levels and food sources in 158 premenopausal and 142 postmenopausal
women. It also assessed significant differences in calcium intake levels and the relative
contributions of food sources to this intake. The questionnaire comprised a semiquantitative
food frequency questionnaire and closed end questions. The closed ended
questions measured psychosocial factors, stage of dietary change, levels of physical
activity and demographic factors. These factors formed the basis of an investigation
into factors best associated with the levels of adequacy of intake. The results suggest no
significant difference in calcium intake (milligrams per day) in the two groups of
women. There was a significant difference in the relative levels of adequacy of the
estimated calcium intake levels.
Milk and milk products contributed up to 84% of the daily calcium intake with 72.2 and
84.7% as the respective contributions in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.
Fortified milk types have a relatively higher calcium content than unfortified types. A
higher consumption of fortified milk noted in the postmenopausal women could explain
the higher though not significant mean intake values post-menopausally.
Several of the enabling factors but none of the predisposing factors were noted to
influence intake of fortified milk. Taste generally influenced intake of fortified milk in
the whole sample of 300 women whereas perceived costs and health concerns were an
issue with the premenopausal women only. Other enabling factors such as the
perceptions of the adequacy of the present diet, and the feeling that there was too much
nutrition information that was in itself confusing influenced the intake of fortified milk
in postmenopausal but not premenopausal women.The influence of change related
factors was also noted. The importance ratings for nutrient issues influenced the intake
of fortified milk intake in the whole sample.
Food preference was the only enabling factor found to influence the adequacy of
calcium intake in the both the premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Change
related factors, were also noted to influence the adequacy of calcium intake in the
premenopausal and postmenopausal women and these included; the stage of change for
adopting a high calcium diet, the importance ratings for; increasing intake of milk and
milk products and the perceived adequacy of this intake. The other suggested
determinants of the adequacy of intake varied between the two groups of women.
These inc1uded;enabling factors; perceived cost of milk and milk products, milk
allergies, social support, availability of milk at home on a daily basis and the frequency
of meal preparation in the premenopausal group. Change related factors on the other
hand determined the postmenopausal intake and these included importance ratings for
eating low fat foods, perceived adequacy of fruit and vegetable intake, and importance
rating for an increased dietary calcium intake. The enabling factors; preferences, social
support and perceived adequacy of milk and milk products' intake were the best
predictors of the adequacy of premenopausal calcium intake whereas the change related
factors; the importance rating for a high calcium diet and the reluctance to change a diet
considered to be enjoyable best predicted the adequacy post-menopause.
Knowledge is a predisposing factor for behaviour change. The results show that
knowledge on the importance of a high calcium intake exists in the sample population.
This knowledge is however not being effectively translated into food behaviour. This
highlights the need for Nutrition education programs that stress the importance of food
behaviours. These programs should aim at increasing women's calcium intake levels
and destroying the few existing misconceptions regarding milk and milk product
consumption. The factors identified as determinants of intake in the premenopausal and
postmenopausal women are the basis of these education programs.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/219515 |
| Date | January 1996 |
| Creators | Onyango, Lilian Awuor, n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Human & Biomedical Sciences |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright Lilian Awuor Onyango |
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