Background: The aim of this study as a semi experimental project was to assess the effect of educational program on knowledge, attitude and behavior (Practice) about the endemic goiter among pre high school (secondary) students of Ilam city in 2000-2001.
Materials and Methods: 226 students as a sample were selected randomly and examined.
In a questionnaire form, Knowledge, attitude and behavior of all students about the endemic Goiter were collected and then analyzed.
All samples regarding the degree of Goiter according to palpation technique which is approved by
WHO were studied. About 36.7% of them had no Goiter and the nest (63.3%) showed a degree of Goiter.
The amount of Iodine in consumption salt in all samples was qualitatively tested. All tested samples had Iodine in them .20 samples were quantitatively analyzed for Iodine randomly and 21 samples were randomly examined for T3, T4, TSH.
Results: On the base of finding in the first stage of research, educational program was designed and was done for all samples. In the next stage the same 226 students were examined again by means of questionnaire. The result of before and after educational intervention for its effect on knowledge, attitude and behavior about the endemic Goiter were compared. The result showed that the educational intervention and behavior among students under tested.
Conclusion: Comparison of average differences of knowledge in students before and after test were analyzed and showed that the educational intervention significantly caused knowledge increase in samples and even caused change in attitude and the educational program for increase the knowledge, attitude and behavior among the pre high school students of Ilam city about the Goiter pre high school has been effected.