Journal of Education and Community Health
Year:2014 | Volume:1 | Issue:1|Papers Count:8

Introduction: Unsafe sexual behaviors as important risky behaviors can expose individuals and society to dangerous infectious disease such as AIDS and viral hepatitis. Considering the high prevalence of unsafe sexual behaviors, this study aimed to determine the effect of educational programs to encourage safe sexual behaviors among substance abusers referred to substance abuse treatment centers in Hamadan, Western Iran by applying the theory of planned behavior.Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was performed on 104 men substance abusers (52 participants in each of the control and intervention groups) referred to substance abuse treatment centers in Hamadan. Data collection tool was a questionnaire containing demographic information and the theory of planned behavior constructs. Before the educational program, questionnaires were completed by both groups. After the pretest in both groups, participants in the intervention group participated in four educational sessions designed based on the theory of planned behavior. Two months after the end of pro-gram, posttest was performed. Data was analyzed using independent T-test, chi-square, fisher exact test, McNemar’s test and multiple linear regressions using SPSS-16.Results: After educational intervention, the mean scores of the theory constructs (attitude toward behavior, subjective norms, behavioral control, behavioral intention and behaviors), in the intervention group increased significantly (P<0.05), despite the fact, changes were not significant in the control group.Conclusions: Implementation of educational courses to encourage safe sexual behaviors based on the theory of planned behavior can be beneficial for substance abusers referred to substance abuse treatment centers.

Introduction: Preventive behaviors such as screening tests have an important role in prevention and control of breast cancer. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of educational programs on preventive behaviors of breast cancer based on the health belief model among female teachers of guidance schools in Zahedan city.Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was performed on 240 female teachers from (120 participants in each of the control and intervention groups) Zahedan guidance schools. The data-gathering tool was a multipart questionnaire containing demographic variables, knowledge and health belief model structures. An educational program was performed based on the health belief model in five sessions through lectures, training videos, question and answer session for participants in the intervention group. Questionnaires were filled be-fore and two months after the intervention in the two groups. Data was analyzed by independent T-test, chi-square and multiple linear regressions using SPSS-15 software.Results: There was no meaningful difference in the mean scores of knowledge, health belief model constructs, and performance between the two groups before the educational intervention, but the mean scores of variables increased significantly after the intervention (P<0.05).Conclusions: The health belief model was effective to promote preventive behaviors. Hence, educational interventions with an emphasis on raising awareness, change in beliefs and improving self-efficacy regarding breast cancer are recommended.

Introduction: Fast-food consumption among Iranian families appears to be increasing probably due to urbanization, popularization of western-style diets and increased women's labor force participation. Few theory-based investigations have assessed the determinants of fast food consumption. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the predictors of fast food consumption, based on the social cognitive theory (SCT) among women referred to health centers in Hamadan, Western of Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted using structured self-administered questionnaires on 384 women referred to 10 health centers in Hamadan city, Western of Iran. Health center was considered as a sampling unit and systematic random sampling method was applied to select health centers. Participants filled a questionnaire containing SCT constructs, an eight-item food frequency questionnaire, and demographic characteristics. Data was analyzed by independent T-test, one-way ANOVA, and multiple linear regression using SPSS-16.Results: The model could explain 21% of the variance in frequency of fast food consumption. Outcome expectations (p=0.04) and availability (p<0.001) were the significant predictors. The career status of women was the only related demographic characteristic (p<0.001).Conclusions: Interventions aimed to change outcome expectations and introducing nutritious alternatives to fast food could be promising to decrease the rate of fast-food consumption.

Introduction: Using different media and information resources in the field of health is to achieve three key outcomes as; learning correct health information, change in attitudes related to health and creating new healthy behaviors. This study was performed to determine the attitudes and performance of staff regarding health information resources in health centers of Kerman University of Medical Sciences.Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all health personnel working in Ker-man University of Medical Sciences were evaluated during 2012-13 (N=223). Data collection tool was a researcher made questionnaire containing demographic characteristics, attitudes, and practices questionnaire (a=0.9). Scores of attitude and practice were categorized into three levels as; low (under 50%), moderate (50-75%) and good (over 75%). The data was analyzed using SPSS-20 statistical software by Chi-square and Pearson correlation.Results: In total, 42.6% of the study population had a positive attitude and 61.9% had a poor performance score. There was a positive correlation between attitude and practice scores (P<0.001). There was no significant association between attitude and practice scales with gender, age and work experience (P>0.05).Conclusions: Attitude of most study population regarding health information resources was in moderate level and their performance was weak. Therefore, it is suggested to design and implement educational interventions for more efficient use of health information resources among staff.

Introduction: Sexual health is the integrity between mind, emotions, and body, and any dis-order leading to discoordination, can be associated with sexual dysfunction. The aim of this study was to investigate the beliefs of couples attending marriage counseling centers toward sexual health based on the health belief model.Materials and Methods: This cross sectional descriptive study was performed on 400 couples referring to marriage counseling centers of Hamadan recruited with a random sampling method. The participants completed a self-administered questionnaire including demographic characteristics, knowledge and health belief model constructs. Data analysis was performed using SPSS-16 software, by Pearson’s coefficient correlation, independent T-test, and one-way ANOVA.Results: Couples had a moderate knowledge of sexual health. In addition, perceived susceptibility and severity of the consequences of unsafe sexual behavior among couples were not satisfactory; however, perceived benefits and barriers were reported in a relatively good level.Internet and friends were the most important sources for sexual health information.Conclusions: Promoting knowledge and beliefs toward sexual health by preparing training packages based on the needs of couples and removing obstacles to have normal sexual behav-ior are necessary.

Introduction: Healthy lifestyle is a valuable source to reduce the prevalence of health problems and promoting health. Given the key role of employees as valuable human resources, the aim of this study was to evaluate lifestyle obesity and position of governmental employees in changing process based on the Trans-Theoretical Model (TTM) in Hamadan.Materials & Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 1200 government employees selected using suitable stratified sampling. Data collection was performed using a three-section questionnaire containing demographic characteristics, fantastic lifestyle questionnaire and Marcus et al.’s five-part questionnaire. Data was analyzed by correlation tests, Chi-square, T-test and ANOVA using SPSS-20.Results: Lifestyle status of most employees (61.7 percent) was satisfying. About a half of the employees were in the preparatory stage of TTM. Considering the physical activity and healthy eating habits, most employees had a poor condition. Women had higher scores than men in most items. The associations between lifestyle and age, gender, work experience, in-come satisfaction and marital status were significant. Moreover, the associations between obesity and work experience, marital status, number of children and gender were significant (p<0.05).Conclusion: Planning health education interventions for employees through effective approaches seems to be necessary.

Introduction: Mental disorders such as depression are the most common complications after tubal ligation surgery. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of training to reduce depression rate in woman who had undergone tubectomy.Materials & Methods: This quasi-experimental study was performed on 80 women (40 in each of the control and intervention groups) who had undergone tubectomy in Kaboudar-Ahang Health Centers. The participants completed a self-administered questionnaire containing demographic characteristics and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28).The educational plan set was performed during four educational sessions face-to-face and in-group for the individuals. The data was gathered before and two months after the training in the two groups. Data was analyzed by Pearson correlation test, independent T-test, Mann-Whitney, Chai-square, Fisher test and ANCOVA using SPSS-18 software.Results: Educational Program had an impact to reduce depression rate in women in the intervention group, which was statically meaningful (p<0.05). The mean score of depression was 29.85 before the training and 15.23 after it. Depression was associated with literacy and job status. More educated women had a lower rate of depression and depression in unemployed women was also higher.Conclusions: Result of the present study demonstrated the importance of education to improve mental health in women with a history of tubectomy.

Introduction: Cesarean section is considered as a major surgery accompanied by several complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of educational pro-gram based on the theory of reasoned action to reduce the rate of cesarean section among pregnant women in Fasa, Southern Iran.Materials & Methods: This quasi-experimental study was performed on 100 (50 participants in each of the control and intervention groups) primiparous women in the third trimester of pregnancy admitted to health centers of Fasa city, Fars province, Iran. The data-gathering tool was a multipart questionnaire containing demographic variables and the theory of reasoned action structures. After the pretest, the intervention group underwent exclusive training based on the theory of reasoned action. Then, after 3 months, both groups took part in the posttest. Data was analyzed by paired T-test, independent T-test, chi-square and Fisher exact test using SPSS-18 software.Results: A significant difference was found between the two groups regarding knowledge, evaluations behavioral outcomes, behavioral beliefs and intention (P<0.001). Chi-square analysis showed a significant difference between the two groups regarding their performance (P<0.001).Conclusions: The present intervention was effective in increasing the pregnant women’s knowledge, evaluations behavioral outcomes, behavioral beliefs and strengthening their inten-tion as well as performance. Therefore, it is suggested to use this model and other systematic trainings for pregnant women to decrease the rate of cesarean section.