Journal of Education and Community Health
Year:2021 | Volume:8 | Issue:3|Papers Count:10

Aims: Pediculosis Capitis is one of the most common parasitic infections in female students with various complications. Commitment to action as an important determinant of behavior can reinforce interventions. This study evaluated the effect of commitment to action on increasing the effectiveness of education to control Pediculosis Capitis in students. Methods: This experimental study was conducted on 150 female high school students in Firoozkooh in 2017. Participants were selected by multistage cluster sampling and randomly assigned to three groups of 50 people. Two intervention groups, including education and education with a commitment to action and one control, participated. Data were collected by a valid and reliable questionnaire of knowledge, attitude, behavior, commitment to action, and examination at baseline and one month after education. Data were analyzed by SPSS 21 using ANCOVA and logistic regression (p<0. 05). Findings: an increase in knowledge, attitude, behavior, commitment to action, and a reduction in Pediculosis Capitis were observed (p<0. 001) in the intervention groups. Also, there were significant differences in behavior, commitment to action, and Pediculosis Capitis (p<0. 001) in the second intervention group than first. The effectiveness of the intervention was moderate to high (0. 79 to 0. 95). Factors influencing Pediculosis Capitis included the number of family members, number of people in the bedroom, history of infection, number of bedrooms, knowledge, attitude, behavior, and commitment to action (p<0. 001). Conclusion: Applying commitment to action increases the effectiveness of the education on improving knowledge, attitude, behavior, and Pediculosis Capitis control in female high school students.

Aims: Throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the role of students in transmitting the infection has received special attention aiming at protecting the younger generation against COVID-19 and other known respiratory diseases. This research aimed to specify factors related to Covid-19 preventing behaviors in high school students. Instrument & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 2852 students aged 13 to 18 in Hamadan in 2020. Participants were selected using the multistage cluster sampling method. The data were collected with a researcher-made EPPM questionnaire. Data were analyzed statistically by Stata 14. 2 software using the Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Findings: The vast majority of students (67. 02%) were in the danger control response phase. The response efficacy (77. 3%) and perceived efficacy (75. 3%) had the highest percentage of the mean from the maximum obtainable score among constructs of the model. There was a significant difference between categories of the EPPM model with doing healthy behaviors. Moreover, the proportion of doing health behaviors was significantly higher in students in the danger control phase. Conclusion: The predominance of the perceived threat of COVID-19 on the perceived efficacy affects preventive health behaviors. Therefore, a theory-based behavioral modification program can be developed based on gender among high school students. Higher grade students and poor socioeconomic status require intense educational interventions to modify their hygienic behaviors.

Aims: Using correct ergonomic principles is the main preventive factor while employees use computers. This study aimed to investigate the effect of applying the Extended Parallel Process Model in adopting preventing behaviors of physical injuries caused by the computer on female employees of comprehensive service health centers. Materials and Methods: This semi-experimental study was performed on 166 female employees of the Health Centers of West Ahvaz in 2018-2019. Participants were selected by census method, and after completing the pre-test questionnaire, they were randomly divided into two experimental groups and one control group. The educational intervention was performed based on the Extended Parallel Process Model by sending a daily educational SMS for one month. Two months after sending the last SMS, participants completed the research questionnaire again. Data were analyzed by SPSS 22 software using ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis, paired T, Wilcoxon, and Friedman tests. Findings: There was no significant difference between the scores of the Extended Parallel Process Model constructs in the experimental and control groups before the intervention (P>0. 05). A significant difference was observed in the mean scores of the perceived sensitivity and severity, response effectiveness, self-efficacy, and behavior in the intervention groups two months after the intervention (P<0. 05). Conclusion: Training by the Extended Parallel Process Model enabled the test group participants to be in a position to adopt protective behavior. The findings showed that focusing on high-performance content messages promotes preventive behaviors for computer-assisted physical injuries.

Aims: Domestic violence against men, an important issue in today's societies, can be exacerbated during a woman's pregnancy due to special bio-psychological conditions. Various factors, including social determinants of health, can influence this area, which requires further study. This study aimed to investigate the social determinants of pregnant women's violence against their husbands. Instruments & Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 206 pregnant women's husbands who were referred to the prenatal centers in Tehran during 2018-2019. The subjects were selected using the available sampling method. Data were collected using demographics and the Conflict Tactile Scale-2 questionnaires. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21 software using T student Kruskal Wallis and analysis variance tests through the statistical significance of p<0. 05. Findings: The results showed a significant relationship between age (p=0. 004), husband's age (p<0. 001), marriage age (p=0. 004), husband's marital age (p=0. 003), housing situation (p=0. 009), men and women marital satisfaction (p=0. 001 and p=0. 008 respectively), women's perceived psycho-receiving emotional support from husbands (p=0. 008), men and women unwanted pregnancy (p=0. 017 and p=0. 01 respectively), house ownership (p=0. 01), and smoking by pregnant women (p=0. 016) with pregnant women's use of violence against their husbands. Conclusion: Regarding the various factors associated with the violence perpetrated by pregnant women against their husbands, it is important to consider the appropriate psychological and educational interventions in prenatal care services to reduce the severity and frequency of violence by pregnant women against men, after providing solutions to involve men to identifying the effective factors.

Aims: The adherence to standard precautions guidelines as the main strategy for preventing healthcare-associated infections such as COVID-19. This study aimed to specify a health belief model to predict the standard precautions of employed nurses. Instrument & Method: This descriptive cross-sectional was conducted in Qom, Iran, from March to May 2020. One hundred and ninety-five randomly sampled registered nurses from two hospitals completed self-reported compliance with standard precautions of COVID-19 and health belief model scale. Data analysis was performed using partial least squares path modeling. Findings: Less than one-tenth (7%) of participants reported compliance with all standard precautions items. There was a significant relationship between health motivation and standard precautions (β =0. 515, t=13. 650). Cues to action (β =0. 356, t=4. 512) were identified as the strongest predictor of health motivation and, perceived threat (β =0. 143, t=2. 144) was the weakest predictor. The model explained approximately 20% of the variance in compliance with standard precautions of COVID-19. Conclusions: The results indicated that health belief model constructs are considered significant predictors of compliance with standard precautions of COVID-19 among Iranian employed nurses. The results can help standard precautions training to reduce hospital infections and protect the health of patients and nursing staff.

Aims: The COVID-19 pandemic led to widespread concern, rumors, and fears in different countries. This study aimed to identify the information needs of the Iranian people regarding the pandemic. Participants & Methods: A qualitative study using a content analysis approach was conducted to collect experts's opinions on identifying the information needs of the Iranian people regarding the COVID-19 virus from March to May 2020. Key informants were purposefully selected from the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Isfahan and Tehran University of Medical Sciences Hospitals. The saturation point was reached at 19 face-to-face semi-structured interviews. The data were collected using a semi-structured interview. The data collection instrument was the interview guide form. The interviews were analyzed by MAXQDA 12. Findings: The findings were divided into two sections, including channels and sources of information and people's information needs about the COVID-19 virus. In the first part, two main themes and eight categories were identified. Four themes and twenty-three subthemes on information needs regarding the COVID-19 virus were extracted. ). Themes related to information needs regarding COVID-19 were as follows: Information regarding an alternative lifestyle due to COVID-19 Pandemic, Information regarding mental health issues, Information regarding sanitation and hygienic requirements, and Information regarding medical issues. Conclusion: The correct information is the key to achieve success in mitigation measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Identifying people's information needs about COVID-19 will also help governments produce better educational content.

Aims: Annually, more than half a million people worldwide are infected with brucellosis. Education is one of the basic strategies in controlling and preventing this disease. The PRECEDE model provides a clear framework for planning to change behavior. The factors affecting the behavior in the educational diagnosis stage of this model are categorized. This study aimed to determine the effect of educational intervention based on the educational phase of the PRECEDE-PROCEED model on the improvement of preventative behaviors of brucellosis. Materials & Methods: This semi-experimental study was carried out on 150 villagers of Minoodasht, Iran, in 2019. The subjects were selected by stratified sampling in two control and intervention groups. Seventy-five people were assigned to each group. Data collection tools were the valid and reliable questionnaire based on the educational structures of the PRECEDE-PROCEED model and a demographic questionnaire. Data of the two groups were collected before and three months after the educational intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS 19 software through T, Chi-square, and exact Fisher tests. Findings: There was no significant difference between the two groups in demographic variables and enabling factors before the intervention (p>0. 05). In contrast, there was a significant difference between the two groups in the enabling factors and preventive behaviors of brucellosis three months after the educational intervention (p<0. 05). Conclusion: The educational intervention based on the educational diagnosis phase of the PRECEDE-PROCEED model effectively promotes brucellosis prevention behaviors in the villagers.

Aims: The outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in the world has raised not only public health concerns but also several psychological problems, including anxiety, fear, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder. The main goal of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of online Stress Management on the mental health status of employees with COVID-19 from Tehran Municipality. Materials & Methods: In this semi-experimental study conducted in 2020, for the mental health status of 370 personnel of Tehran municipality who were affected by COVID-19, a rapid screening questionnaire and General Health Questionnaire-28 were used. Among those whose General Health Questionnaire-28 score was higher than cut-off point 6, 60 individuals were randomly selected and divided into two groups (experiment and control). The experimental samples had six sessions of online stress management training (each one took about an hour), based on a cognitive-behavioral approach. The control group did not receive any intervention during the study period. Data were analyzed by SPSS 24 using MANCOVA. Findings: The results showed that 38. 4% of the subjects suspected a mental disorder (35. 7% of males and 47. 6% of females). The mean scores of the General Health Questionnaire-28 and its subscales were significantly higher in women than men (p<0. 05). Multivariate analysis of covariance on the mean score of individuals in the General Health Questionnaire-28 questionnaire showed that cognitive-behavioral stress management could statistically improve the mental health of samples from the experimental group compared to control. Conclusion: Online cognitive-behavioral stress management can be used in the COVID-19 crisis and can improve the mental health aspect of employee's health.

Aims: Despite progress in health and medical education, a head lice infestation is a common public health problem, the most prevalent problem in elementary school children. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the educational intervention on adopting preventive behavior against head lice infestation among girl elementary school students. Materials & Methods: This study was semi-experimental research on elementary school girls in Eyvan, Ilam, Iran, in 2018. Data were collected by a researcher-made questionnaire and checklist behavior. Two girls's elementary schools were randomly selected from public elementary schools and randomly allocated to the intervention (N=95) and control (N=62) groups. The educational intervention was designed and implemented based on the health belief model in five 30-minutes sessions for the intervention group. One month after the intervention, the students in both groups were evaluated. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22 software via T-test, Chi-square, correlation, and regression. Findings: The results revealed significant differences in scores of knowledge, HBM constructs, and preventive behaviors in the intervention group after the intervention compared to before the intervention (p<0. 05). Self-efficacy was a significant predictor for preventive behaviors of head lice (B= 0. 547; p<0. 001). Conclusion: The HBM-based health education improves student's HBM variables and preventive behaviors.

Aims: COVID-19 is rapidly expanding around the world and is one of the most important health problems. The purpose of the study was to determine preventive behaviors from COVID-19 and its determinants based on some constructs of the Health Belief Model. Instrument & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 2504 citizens of Rafsanjan in 2020 that were randomly selected by cluster sampling method. Data were collected using a behavior and Health Belief Model constructs (HBMs) researcher-made questionnaire based on the Internet. The validity of the questionnaire was evaluated by ten specialists, and its reliability was assessed by Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Data analysis was conducted in SPSS 18 by applying statistical tests such as Pearson's correlation coefficient, independent t-test, One-Way ANOVA, and linear regression. Findings: The means score of knowledge, attitude, perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers, and preventive behavior were 83. 13± 10. 72, 81. 17± 8. 55, 79. 28± 17. 19, 74. 47± 14. 65, 84. 32± 16. 11, 69. 27± 14. 31, and 87. 35± 11. 16, respectively. There was a significant correlation between preventive behaviors with knowledge, attitude, and HBMs (p<0. 001). The attitude was the strongest predictor for adopting preventive behaviors (B=0. 446, p<0. 001). In total, knowledge, attitude, and HBM constructs predicted 36. 8% of the preventive behaviors for COVID-19. Conclusions: There is a significant correlation between adopting preventive behaviors for COVID-19 with knowledge, attitude, and HBM constructs.