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It is estimated that over 200 million people worldwide have osteoporosis. The prevalence of osteoporosis is continuing to escalate with the increasingly elderly population. The major complication of osteoporosis is an increase in fragility fractures leading to morbidity, mortality, and decreased quality of life. This investigation aimed at profiling the incidence and risk of osteoporosis in adult women from a rural setting using ultrasonic bone scanning technology. Peri- and postmenopausal female subjects (n=234) were drawn from a convenience sample. After a non-radiative dual X-ray absorptiometric scanning, the bone mineral density was measured from the heel of the subjects using bone ultrasonometry, and their T-scores were recorded. Results of these scans indicate that in adult women in the age range of 32 and 87, 23.5% of the population had a heel ultrasonic T-score ≤ -1.0, implying a 1.5 to 2.0 fold increase in risk ratio of hip or spinal fracture for each standard deviational decrease. Age at menopause was positively correlated with T-scores (p= 0.032); the higher the age at menopause, the higher the T scores. Additionally, women who had taken estrogen had significantly higher T-scores (p = 0.038) than those who had not. That approximately 25% of this sample has low bone mass or osteoporosis underscores the importance of early screening in order to develop awareness and provide education on bone health management. on the quality of life. In the United States and the European Union, about 30% of all postmenopausal women have osteoporosis, and it has been predicted that more than 40% of them will suffer one or more fragility fractures during their remaining lifetime (3). Osteoporotic fragility fractures impose a considerable financial burden on health services due to reduced mobility, hospitalization, and nursing home requirements (9). In the European Union, in 1998, osteoporosis patients occupied 500,000 hospital bed-nights per year, and this was expected to double by 2050 (10). Despite these impacts, osteoporosis is frequently not diagnosed even after the first vertebral fracture has occurred. Here, we investigate the prevalence and risk of osteoporosis in females from a rural population using portable heel ultrasonometry.

This study explored the experience and expressions of conflict/anger in nine women between the ages of 62 and 79 years. Three themes related to events of conflict were described: (1) avoidance ("just forget it"); (2) covert retaliation ("It would tickle me . . . I know a way to get back"); and (3) no acknowledgement. In addition, one feeling theme emerged and was characterized by feelings of isolation and estrangement. The women appeared to go to great lengths to avoid conflict rather than risk disruption of personal relationships. Noteworthy were the lasting and vivid memories of the interactions involving conflict and the intensity of the emotions described.

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the phenomenon of creativity in a population of older adults. This study utilized a phenomenologic research design to explore the lived experience of creativity in four women ranging in age from 63 to 75 who were noted by their peers to be creative. Subjects were asked to respond to the following question: "Describe the last time you felt you were especially creative. Describe what happened and how you felt. Continue to tell about the experience until you feel you have described it fully." Analysis of the interview transcriptions progressed through the steps characteristic of phenomenological methodology. Themes were identified, analyzed, and sorted into three categories: (1) Characteristics of the phenomenon; (2) Ideation integral to the experience; and (3) Environmental field patterns associated with the phenomenon.