Journal of Education and Community Health
Year:2021 | Volume:8 | Issue:4|Papers Count:10

Aims: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic spans all aspects of life. This study aimed to investigate the mental health situation of Jordanian university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instrument & Methods: This cross-sectional study on 1000 university students from April to May 2020. A web-based survey that investigates students' psychological distress and anxiety was conducted. Google Form was used to create the survey, and it was published using Facebook and WhatsApp applications over university students’ groups. SPSS 19 software was used for analysis. Nonparametric tests (Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis) were used to examine the significant associations between psychological distress and anxiety; an ordinal regression analysis was also performed. Findings: Of the 1000 students who filled the questionnaire, 39. 3% were male, and 60. 7% were female. The Mean± SD age of the student was 22± 3. 8 years old. 42. 1% suffer from distress, and 72. 6% suffer from anxiety. Furthermore, male gender and family income stability were protective factors against psychological distress and anxiety. Regions (Irbid, Balqa, Jerash, Ajloun, Alzarqa, Tafila, Amman, Aqaba, Karak, Maan) were considered as a risk factor. Conclusion: Covid-19 pandemic affects students’ mental health, primarily distress and anxiety. Male gender and family income stability are protective factors. Some regions are considered as risk factors.

Aims: High blood pressure is one of the common main preventable risk factors for many diseases. This study aimed to psychometric properties of the cognitive determinants of hypertension self-management questionnaire among Iranian hypertensive patients based on the Intervention Mapping approach. Instrument & Methods: This psychometric study was conducted in Abadan in 2019. Content Validity Ratio and Content Validity Index of the questionnaire were calculated by ten hypertensive patients and 12 experts. Construct validity was investigated using Classical Item Analysis and Exploratory Factor Analysis by the participation of 315 hypertensive patients. The internal consistency was measured by using Cronbach’ s Coefficient Alpha of the various cognitive determinants of the questionnaire. Data were analyzed by SPSS 16. Findings: The mean age of patients was 57. 53± 11. 30 years, ranging from 30 to 70 years. Five factors (attitude, outcome expectation, self-efficacy, subjective norms, and barriers) and behavior were confirmed. The Kaiser-Meyer Olkin test was generally satisfactory (calculated: 0. 817). The factors explained 61. 86% of the variance of the hypothesized model. Estimated reliability using alpha Cronbach coefficient for each cognitive determinants were as follows: attitude (α =0. 75), outcome expectations (α =0. 79), self-efficacy (α =0. 80), subjective norms (α =0. 85), barriers (α =0. 88), behavior (α =0. 82). Conclusion: The application of the intervention mapping approach in questionnaire development offers a useful questionnaire to measurement self-management hypertension behaviors, and psychometric analysis shows that it could be useful for related planning programs.

Aims: This study determined the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding COVID-19 and assessed the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine among the elderly in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Instrument & Methods: From February to May 2021, a cross-sectional study was conducted among 450 elderly 60 years old and above who lived in Chiang Mai Municipality. The questionnaire collected demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude, practice about COVID-19, and acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine. Descriptive statistics are used to analyze. Findings: The results showed that 48. 4% of the participants were male, 51. 6% were female, and the mean± SD age was 68. 2± 7. 3 years. Participants have sufficient knowledge, attitude, and practice about COVID-19, and the mean± SD score is 9. 7± 1. 3, 4. 2± 0. 8, and 3. 98± 0. 5, respectively. The mean± SD score of the knowledge, attitude, and acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine were 4. 3± 1. 4, 2. 9± 1. 9, and 2. 2± 0. 9, respectively. This study's major issue is 95. 1% of people strongly agree that maintaining social distancing can protect them and their families from contracting COVID-19, and 92. 7% strictly follow the guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The policy can ultimately control the disease. 81. 3% of respondents acknowledged vaccines are vital to the health of the elderly and believe that vaccination can reduce morbidity and mortality. Also, 75. 8% of people know that the COVID-19 vaccine can cause side effects. Conclusion: The elderly in Chiang Mai, Thailand, have adequate knowledge and awareness about COVID-19 and are generally optimistic about resolving the pandemic and addressing the public concerns, raising awareness about COVID-19 vaccination as a disease-control method to prevent further deterioration of general public health due to COVID-19.

Aims: Paying attention to the health of pregnant women leads to the newborn’ s health and ultimately, the health of society. Health literacy and knowledge of antenatal care reduce neonatal and maternal fatality, increase maternal and neonatal health. The current research, therefore, aims to investigate the association of health literacy, antenatal care adequacy indicators, and delivery outcomes. Instrument & Methods: This Descriptive-analytical study was performed on 113 pregnant women attending the health centers of City Zahedan in 2020. Samples were selected by multi-stage method, and data were collected by the questionnaire of maternal health literacy and pregnancy outcomes (MHLAPQ) and a checklist. The Independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation coefficient were used to analyze data by SPSS 21 software; the significant level was <0. 05. Findings: In this research, the average score of pregnant women’ s health literacy was 54. 5± 6. 9, and 34. 5% of women participating in this study had a university education. This research results indicated a significant relationship between prenatal care adequacy and health literacy (p=0. 03). A significant relationship was observed between prenatal care adequacy and birth weight (p=0. 04). Conclusions: Prenatal care adequacy and health literacy indices were predictors of birth weight, indicating the need to pay more attention to prenatal care and health literacy in health promotion programs.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of spiritual well-being and demographic characteristics in signing the donor card. Instrument & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Hamadan in 2018. Six hundred employees from 57 offices (out of 60) were selected using a random sampling method. Data gathering was carried out using a self-administered questionnaire. The data were analyzed using logistic regression analysis using SPSS version 22. Findings: The participants’ mean± SD age was 39. 5± 7. 0. About 20% (n=120) of employees had a donor card and 41. 7% (n=250) of them were being a blood donors. About 56 percent than half of them were categorized as having high spiritual health. Among the interpersonal and mass media sources, employees obtained more information from friends (n=181, 30. 2%) and TV (n=482, 80. 3%), respectively. The results of logistic regression showed that being female (AOR=1. 80; 95% CI=1. 12-2. 87), fewer children (1 child: AOR=1. 99; 95% CI=1. 15-3. 43 & no child: AOR=2. 94; 95% CI=1. 48-5. 84), being blood donor (AOR=2. 40; 95% CI=1. 50-3. 85), and higher spiritual heath (AOR=1. 01; 95% CI=1. 00-1. 03) were significantly predicted to sign donor card. Conclusions: This study provides evidence about the importance of spiritual well-being and demographic predictors of organ donor cards. These predictors can be helpful for the development and implementation of interventions related to increasing the sign donor card.

Aims: Sexual health literacy is a context-based variable affected by the ecosystem or a set of cultural and social factors of each community. This study aimed to determine sexual health literacy and the related factors. Instrument & Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. The population of this study was 305 women referring to the health centers of Qazvin, Iran. Sampling was done through a one-stage cluster method. The data collection tool was a demographic and the standard questionnaire sexual health literacy for adults. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22 and descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Findings: In this study, 44. 9% of women were under 30 years old. The mean± SD of sexual health literacy was 76. 89± 18. 32. Women had 7. 9% inadequate sexual health literacy, 9. 5% had inadequate sexual health literacy, 50. 1% had adequate sexual health literacy, and 32. 5% had excellent sexual health literacy. The results of the logistic regression test showed that the variables of education level, spouse education level, and use of contraceptives affect women's health literacy (p<0. 05). Conclusion: Women with a lower education level, women whose spouses had low education levels, and women who did not use contraceptives had lower sexual health literacy. Therefore, according to the role of sexual health literacy in understanding, accepting, and applying sexual health messages, it is suggested that researchers and health providers pay more attention to the mentioned women in designing educational programs to promote women's sexual health literacy.

Aims: It is essential to empower and improve women's awareness of sexual health. In Iran, the specific needs of women in marriage do not meet due to cultural traits. The purpose of this study was to identify and analyze the sexual health education needs of newly married women, to extract their opinions, and enhance understanding. Participants & Methods: This qualitative study was carried out by purposive sampling in Qom city, 2019. In-depth interviews were conducted with 22 married women. All interviews were recorded and typed. Data were analyzed using conventional content and was managed and organized using MAXQDA10 software. Findings: Educational needs were explained in 4 categories, 12 subcategories, and 28 codes. Extraction of study codes led to the emergence of educational needs of married women in four main categories, including psychological needs, individual and family needs, and recognition of marital factors as well as social and environmental needs. Furthermore, each main category included several subcategories, which were explained using some of the participants' opinions. Conclusion: The results indicated that married women need to receive specialized knowledge and skills in psychological, individual and family, marital factors, as well as social and environmental terms. Currently, the premarital education programs do not address many of these needs, especially sex education. Thus, the results of this study are useful for those in charge of educating couples in planning and implementing education programs based on needs in the pre and post-marriage period and improving the quality of education.

Aims: Childbearing is a value in Islamic Iranian culture. Due to the decrease in the total fertility rate in Iran during the three decades, following the change in population policies in 1990-2010, having one child has become a common phenomenon in the country. This study aimed to determine the effect of education on childbearing intention in one-child women based on the theory of planned behavior. Materials & Methods: In this interventional study in Farooj in 2018, 90 one-child women were randomly selected and assigned into intervention and control. Before the intervention, the subjects were surveyed using demographic information, planned behavior theory, and Miller's fertility motivation questionnaires. Then, based on the educational needs, four 60-minutes training sessions were provided to the intervention group for two months, and the control group did not receive training. The questionnaires were filled out by the intervention and control groups immediately and three months after training. Data were analyzed using SPSS 24 software through a significance level of 0. 05. Findings: There was no significant difference between the two groups before the intervention regarding the mean score of perceived behavioral control, behavioral intention, positive motivation, and negative motivation towards childbearing intention and demographic variables (p>0. 05). There were no significant differences in attitude scores, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control on the childbearing intention in one-child women in both intervention and control groups (p>0. 05). Conclusion: Social, cultural, religious, and especially economic conditions of the society are effective in improving the attitude of childbearing, which should be considered along with educational interventions to achieve better results from education.

Aims: The Pap smear test as the primary screening test for cervical cancer has a low application rate among Iranian women. This study aimed to explore Iranian women’ s Pap smear test experiences at healthcare centers. Participants & Methods: This qualitative study was carried out in Varamin City, in 2018. To this end, 15 women admitted to healthcare centers were selected using purposive sampling. Inclusion criteria consisted of married women aged 20-50 years with a history of Pap smear, willingness to participate in the study, Iranian nationality, and ability to speak. To explore the women’ s views and experiences, semi-structured interviews were conducted, recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using content analysis. Four criteria, namely credibility, confirmability, dependability, and transferability were used to verify the accuracy and consistency of the data. Findings: The data analysis yielded five main categories, including “ intention to perform the test” , “ policies and the administrative system” , “ social factors helping to perform the test” , “ barriers to perform the test” , and “ motivational factors to perform the test” . From the participants’ perspective, risk concepts, and supportive policies were critical in enhancing test performance. Conclusions: The results showed that the women’ s Pap smear test performance depended on some factors including convenient and friendly interactions with healthcare providers, family support, encouraging policies and laws, and awareness. The cooperation of other organizations to perform a Pap smear test is also emphasized.

Aims: Nowadays the necessity of informing children of various ages about sexual issues is felt more than ever before. The present study has been conducted to determine the effect of the mothers’ education on the preschool children’ s sexual training based on the health belief model. Methods: the present study is experimental intervention research performed on 144 mothers with preschool children in 2020 in Sanandaj. The participants were randomly selected from 12 preschools by multi-stage cluster sampling method. The intervention was conducted through the use of a combination of in-person and remote training according to the constructs of the health belief model. The data were collected by the use of a researcher-constructed questionnaire the validity and reliability of which have been assessed and confirmed and subsequently analyzed using SPSS, version 23, through the descriptive and analytical statistics, including chi-square tests, fisher’ s exact test and t-test, one-way variance analysis, and LSD follow-up test and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Findings: the study results indicated that the mean values of the scores calculated for knowledge and perceived susceptibility constructs, perceived barriers, cues to action, and perceived self-efficacy in the intervention group’ s mothers following training were significantly higher than those of the control group (p<0. 05). Conclusions: the results of this study showed that 3 training sessions with the design of health belief model structures in mothers are effective in performing sexual education of children.