Purpose: The Ultra-Orthodox Jewish (UOJ) community represents 10% of Israel`s population. UOJ women engage in lower levels of health behaviors and have higher rates of diabetes and obesity. Barriers are likely cultural, religious and socio-economic. Research in this population is scant. This study explored cardiovascular disease (CVD) knowledge and health behaviors (i.e. diet and physical activity).
Methods: As part of a health promotion program, 285 female UOJ high school teachers from 3 schools in Israel completed questionnaires. Questions included demographics and knowledge among other health-related items. Knowledge items included identification of heart attack symptoms (HASx) and CVD risk factors.
Results: Teachers` age range was 21-71, mean number of children was 6, 37% were below poverty level, 49% were overweight or obese. Thirty four percent reported >150 minutes/week of moderate PA, 11% reported >75 minutes/week of vigorous PA, 26% reported eating >5 fruits and vegetables/day, and 19% reported eating >3-4 servings of whole grains/day. Transfat usage was 41%.
Only 2% identified all HASx and 2% all CVD risk factors. Most teachers identified chest pressure and chest pain as HASx and fewer identified shoulder pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, and fatigue. Most teachers identified PA, weight, cholesterol, blood pressure, stress, diet, and smoking as CVD risk factors while fewer identified secondhand smoke, family history, diabetes, and menopause.
Education was associated with both knowledge of risk factors (p=.006) and HASx (p=.007). Knowledge of risk factors was associated with eating >5 fruits and vegetables/day (p=.045) and less transfat (p=.094). Knowledge of HASx was not associated with any health behaviors.
Conclusions: This study is the first investigating CVD knowledge and health behaviors in an UOJ population. UOJ teachers reported moderate to low levels of health behaviors and limited CVD knowledge. Increasing CVD knowledge in this population may improve the rates of these preventive health behaviors.
