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Brucellosis is one of the most common animal-to-human transmissible diseases and one of the major health problems worldwide, especially in developing countries. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of education based on Theory of Planned Behavior on preventive behaviors concerning with brucellosis in farmers.

This research is a quasi-experimental study with two groups of intervention and control. The target population of the ranch was covered by Zaveh Comprehensive Rural Health Service Centers, using multistage random sampling method, 104 individuals were selected. They were randomly divided into two groups of intervention (n=52) and control (n=52). A researcher-made questionnaire based on Structured Theory of Planned Behavior was used for data collection. Its validity and reliability were confirmed before the study. Data were analyzed using Chi-square, Mann-Whitney, Fisher tests and SPSS  24.

Demographic variables were homogeneous in both groups. Also, the mean scores of all the constructs of the theory of planned behavior in the immediately after the intervention and three months after the intervention were significantly different between the control and intervention groups (P-value <0.001).

The findings of this study demonstrate the effectiveness of the theory of planned behavior in prevention of brucellosis. According to the results of this study, the theory of planned behavior can be used as a framework for designing educational interventions to prevent and control joint diseases between humans and animals, especially brucellosis.

Head louse, Pediculus capitis, is an obligatory ectoparasite with a worldwide distribution. Head louse infestation is still common in many countries including Iran. It causes serious health problems in many communities particularly among the school-age children. This is an important infestation, which is related to the societies with low health condition. This descriptive study was conducted on the cases with head lice infestations that attended to the Azna Health Centers and were examined by the trained health staff, during 2007. This study was carried out among the patients with head lice infestation, who referred to the Azna Health Centers, during 2007. Suspected hairs of head, nape of the neck, and around ears were examined for nits and lice, by health staff. Individuals would be considered as affected while seeing any forms of louse. Epidemiologic and demographic information of patients were recorded and collected in the questionnaires. Recorded data in the questionnaires were analyzed by SPSS software. The infestation of head lice was 95 cases in Azna County in 2007. All infested cases were found among the females. The incidence of pediculosis was greater in the villages (70.5%) than in the urban (29.5%) areas. The prevalence rate of pediculosis among the age groups of <6, 6-10, 11-17 and >17 years old were 10.5%, 62.1%, 24.2% and 3.2%, respectively. Eighteen cases (18.9%) of patients had infestation background to pediculosis and 77 cases (81.1%) were without infestation background. The frequency of nit infestation was 90 cases and with adult and nymph were five cases. Remarkable percentage of patients (78%) complained from head itching. Seventy cases of patients were observed among the people who have used of common tools such as combs and towels. Most of the patients (79%) were without healthy bathroom at home. 75.8% of patients had elementary knowledge. As the data of this study showed, head louse is an important health problem in Azna, especially among the people with low education, who live in the area with poverty, low health and overcrowded conditions. Therefore, a health behavior and knowledge promotion is recommended among the children,especially, of 6-10 age groups and school health practitioners, through education methods regarded to the personal and social health promotion, to reduce the head louse infestation among the people. In addition, further studies are needed to carry out among the students, their parents and school health practitioners with emphasized on the more related factors including the economic levels.