Gender barriers to health promotion in middle-aged Iranian women

This study explores the perceived socio-cultural factors that might be barriers to health-promoting behaviour in middle-aged women in the city of Yazd in Iran. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the barriers to a healthy lifestyle in middle-aged women. Interviews with women aged 40-60 were audio-taped, transcribed and analysed using content analysis. The interviews focused on socio-cultural factors and five main themes emerged: (a) giving higher priority to non-health-related needs; (b) the dominance of the husband's will in the family; (c) preference of children's needs to own needs; (d) having to fulfil multiple responsibilities; and (e) low access to community resources for health promotion. The multiple responsibilities of family and work, patriarchal societal attitudes and lack of exercise facilities are barriers to health in middle-aged Iranian women.