Publication: Determination and Evaluation of Sense of Coherence in Women in Semi-urban Nepal: A part of the Heart-health Associated Research, Dissemination, and Intervention in the Community (HARDIC) Trial
Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
Sense of coherence (SOC) is a core concept of salutogenesis which relates to
individuals’ overall life orientation. Stronger SOC associates with better coping
strategies, better health, and better quality of life. Although the SOC-questionnaire is
validated in many cultures and languages, it has not, to date, been applied in Nepal.
Objective
To determine and evaluate women’s SOC before and after a health education
intervention.
Method
This study was conducted as a part of the Heart-health Associated Research,
Dissemination, and Intervention in the Community in the semi-urban Jhaukhel-
Duwakot Health Demographic Surveillance Site in Nepal. Jhaukhel and Duwakot
were selected as the control and intervention areas, respectively. Participants were
women with children aged 1-7 years. Eight hundred and fifty-seven women before
and 1,268 women after the health education intervention participated in the study.
The statistical analysis was carried out with chi-square tests and one-way uni-variate
ANOVA.
Result
Women’s total SOC mean values at baseline were 51.1-57.4 and at follow up 54.4-54.9
in the intervention and control area, respectively. At baseline, SOC was significantly
weaker in the intervention area compared to the control area (p < 0.001). At follow-
up three months later, SOC was significantly stronger in the intervention area than in
the control area (p < 0.001).
Conclusion
Nepalese women had weaker SOC than women in high-income countries, but
comparable to neighboring country India with similar cultural features. Empowerment
of women through community participation and health education strengthened
SOC. The SOC-13-questionnaire in its Nepali version is recommended to be further
evaluated.
KEY WORDS
Health education, Health promotion, Non-communicable disease, Quality of life,
Sense of coherence
Description
Thapa DR,1,2 Oli N,3 Vaidya A,3 Suominen S,4,5 Ekström-Bergström A,1,6 Areskoug Josefsson K,7-9 Krettek A4,10,11
1Department of Nursing and Reproductive, Perinatal and Sexual Health, School of Health Sciences,
University of Skövde, Skövde, Sweden
2School of Health and Welfare,
Jönköping University, Jönköping, Sweden.
3Department of Community Medicine, Kathmandu
Medical College, Sinamangal, Kathmandu, Nepal.
4Department of Public Health, School of Health
Sciences, University of Skövde, Skövde, Sweden.
5Department of Public Health, University of Turku,
Turku, Finland
6Department of Health Science, University West,
Trollhättan, Sweden
7The Jönköping Academy for Improvement of Health
and Welfare, Jönköping University, Jönköping
Sweden
8Department of Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of
Health Sciences, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo,
Norway
9Faculty of Health Sciences, VID Specialized
University, Sandnes, Norway
10Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical
Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska
Academy at University of Gothenburg, Göteborg,
Sweden
11Department of Community Medicine, Faculty
of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of
Norway, Tromsø, Norway
Keywords
Health education, Health promotion, Non-communicable disease, Quality of life, Sense of coherence