tavafian ss

Considering the rise of HIV transmission through sexual contact, the necessity of disease prevention through sexually transmitted is apparent from the models. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of educational program based on health belief model in health beliefs about AIDS in high school female students in tehran. The present interventional study was conducted on 77 students in level one, two and three as intervention group and 72 students as control group from two high schools of area 8. Data collection tool was a questionnaire containing demographic information and questions related to the health belief model. After pretest on both groups the only intervention group was educated based on HIV and AIDS preventive behaviors. Collected data were analyzed by Paired t-test and Independent t-test. In spite of similarity in both groups at baseline, the intervention was carried out based on health belief leads to a significant improvement in knowledge, perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits and selfefficacy respectively (p< 0.05). It also indicated that the student's perceived barriers to HIV preventive behaviors and beliefs associated to the disease significantly declined (p <0.05). Results of study revealed that the educational program might improve the health beliefs of the students regarding HIV preventive behaviors. Therefore it is recommended to high schools if the training program be approved by other studies.

Sexual risk behaviors in people with HIV- AIDS who were aware of their infection status، is very common. The aim of the present study was to develop a valid and reliable instrument to assess reproductive health behavior in People Living with HIV (PLWH) based on the Health Belief Model.

In this study، we used the exploratory method to design the instrument. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 34 individuals with HIV/AIDS. The instrument was developed using literature review and qualitative analysis with 51 items. The developed instrument was validated using face validity، content validity، and construct (exploratory) method. For reliability of the instrument، we used the internal consistency and test-retest.

Using the cut-off point=79% of the content validity Index and the cut-off point=0. 42 of the content validity Ratio، four questions were deleted and the items decreased to 47 ones. Exploratory factor analysis was used to assess construct validity. The exploratory factor analysis identified five factors with five Health Belief Model constructs explaining 42 percent of the variance. The Chronbach''s Alpha (0. 70-0. 85) and r (0. 77-0. 88) for all constructs of the model were high and acceptable، respectively.

The «Reproductive Health Behavior in People Living with HIV (PLWH) based on Health Belief Model» instrument with five dimensions and 36 items is a valid and reliable instrument for using in the PLWH، high risk and at risk men.

This study evaluated the effect of an educational program on breast self-examination (BSE) among women living in Bandar Abbas, Iran. This trial studied 240 eligible women attending at eight health centers of Bandar Abbas who were randomly divided into intervention (n = 120) or control (n=120) group. Data regarding belief on breast self examination were collected through the Champion’s Health Belief Model Scale (CHBMS). At the initial of the study, there were no differences between two groups in terms of socio demographic data, the mean scores of Champion’s Health Belief Model (CHBM) sub-scales and breast self-examination rate. At follow up time the intervention group compared to control group has obtained significant higher mean score of CHBM in terms of all sub-scales except for the subscale of BSE benefit. This study indicated that the designed program could improve Breast Self Examination among studied women.

This study aimed to explore the experiences of Iranian women regarding the barriers to and facilitating factors for cervical cancer screening. Eight focus groups (N= 86 participants) were conducted with women referred to a health center in Karaj, Iran from January to March, 2007. Purposeful sampling was used. Married women aged 18 years old and over, not suffering from Obstetrics/ Gynecological disease during last two years and being willing to participate in the study were included. Framework analysis was used to extract the themes from the data. In general, the participants stated that they were not knowledgeable regarding cervical cancer. Moreover, most of the participants had negative beliefs regarding cancer prevention, including lack of free time to do the test, cost of the test, no symptoms cue. The perceived facilitating factors verified by the participants were cues to action, health care motivator, and perceived threat. The findings of this study revealed that there are various psychosocial barriers to cervical cancer screening among Iranian women. High accessibility and availably of the test as well as health care provider's encouragements may improve the rate of cervical cancer screening

Although in many developed and developing countries, self care is the most important part of primary care, in Iran it has not been supported as well as its values. The aim of this study was to assess the views of general people living in south of Tehran about self care. This was a population based study in which 1200 individuals aged 15 years and over were interviewed using cluster sampling. A structured interview questionnaire which including 5 sections on regarding demographic characteristics, views on general health, views on self care knowledge, interest and practice, views on barrier and enabler factors for self care, and views on sources of information was used. Content validity and cronbach’s alpha coefficient was used for its validity and reliability. Data were analyzed through spss version 11. The mean age of participants was 27.9 ± 5.2 years. Six hundred and fifty eight respondents (55%) stated they were not knowledgeable on self care, 986 (82%) and 1035 (86%), were interested and self rated themselves active regarding healthy life style, respectively. In practice, only fifty three participants (4%) were actually active in eating ≥7 glasses of water daily, 31 (3%) stated they ate more than five portions of fruits daily and 51(4%) did physical activity more than 3 hours weekly. The findings of this study have highlighted the significant role of information in doing self care activities.

The objective of this study was to determine self efficacy, perceived benefit/ barriers to exercise of students in Hormozagan University of Medical sciences (HUMS).

This was a cross-sectional study. Using stratified sampling, 350 current students of HUMS were studied from November to December 2007 in Bandar Abbass, Iran. Data regarding self efficacy, perceived benefits/barriers to exercise among participants were assessed through Exercise self efficacy scale and Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale. Data were analyzed by SPPS version 13.

In all, the data of 249 participants with mean age of 21.7 ± 2.7 were analyzed. Among them 65 participants (26.5%) including 36 girls and 30 boys were doing physical activity. Mean scores of self efficacy, perceived benefits, perceived barriers were 23 ± 7.1, 96 ± 12.5 and 31.9 ± 6.1, respectively. There were statistically significant relationship between self efficacy and perceived barriers with physical activity (P<0.05).

This study revealed perceived barriers such as insufficient time, money and also tiredness due of exercise could decrease physical activity. However perceived self-efficacy and encouraging by friends and family members have a key role of doing regular physical activities.

IUD is one of the safest and most widely used reversible methods of contraception. The pur pose of this study was to determine IUD survival and reasons for early discontinuation in Bandar Abbas, south of Iran. Probability of IUD continuation rate and factors associated with discontinuation were as sessed in a historical cohort study of 400 women records from March 2002 to February 2004. Data were collected from documents in health centers and interview with subjects. Life tables, Kaplan-Meier, log-rank test and cox regression model were used for data analysis. The continuation rate of using IUD at 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42 and 48 month were 92%, 87%, 81%, 75%, 69%, 62%, 56% and 50%, respectively. Counseling and desire to becoming pregnant were as sociated with continuation rate (P< 0.03). Furthermore the most important reasons for IUD dis continuation were side effects of IUD followed by pregnancy tendency, health concerns, expulsion, and unsatisfied with the method. This study suggested that women should be fully informed about side effects of IUD be fore inserting it as well as during its using.

The Trans theoretical Model is a behavior change model that incorporates the stages of change in physical activity behavior. The aim of this study was to determine these stages in adults living in Bandar Abbas, Iran.

This was a cross sectional study. Using cluster random sampling, 1600 subjects, aged 15 years and over, were studied from April to May 2007 in Bandar Abbas, Iran. To describe different levels of behavior change, we used The Physical Activity Staging questionnaire and collected data on five stages of physical activity change, including pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, readiness and maintenance.

In all, 1600 individuals with a mean age of 40.1± 15.2 were studied. Among these, 724 (49.4) were men. A total of 959 individuals (59.9%) were at pre-contemplation stage and 1.3%, 3.2%, 0.5 % and 35.1% were at stages of contemplation, readiness, action, and maintenance respectively. There were statistically significant differences between stages of change with regard to gender, age, and education (P<0.001).

This study revealed the majority of participants were in pre-contemplation and contemplation stages. These findings should be considered in future studies.

To examine potential correlations between demographic characteristics and the decision to abort the pregnancy.

This was a cross-sectional study. The sample comprised 888 women admitted for abortion or delivery to 15 educational hospitals of Tehran, Iran and Shahid Beheshti medical universities in Tehran from Jan to Feb 2004. Data on demographic characteristics and the decision to illegally terminate the pregnancy were collected via interviews and analyzed by performing multiple logistic regression.

Among all participants, 388 (43.7%) with a mean age of 29.9± 6.3 had made a decision of induced abortion and 500 (56.3%) with a mean age of 24.9 ± 4.9 had not made such a decision. This study showed unwanted pregnancy as the strongest determinant in the decision to abort the fetus. Other variables such as family income, female age and multi parity were also found to be related to the decision to undergo abortion.

This study indicated that some pregnant women might have higher risk than others and thus they need more education and support regarding the serious complications of induced abortion.

Determining to what extent postpartum breast-feeding education can increase the duration of breast-feeding over a period of four months after delivery. This randomized trial was performed to assess the effectiveness of a breast-feeding education program in lengthening the duration of exclusive breast-feeding. This was a brief package aimed at empowering participants through a process of education and skill building. All patients (N=120) had normal babies through vaginal delivery and were randomly allocated into two groups, matched for demographic and obstetric characteristics. The intervention group (N=60) but not the control group received the breast-feeding course. Of all 120 subjects, 110 (53 in the intervention group and 57 in the control group) completed the study. Breastfeeding duration was assessed after four months of follow-up and data were analyzed using the SPSS software package with T-test and X². The breast-feeding program was effective in increasing the duration of exclusive breast-feeding so that the rate of exclusive breast-feeding at the end of 4th month was 64.2% in the intervention group and 29.8% in the other group (P<0.0001). Mothers in the intervention group breast-fed their babies for longer periods compared to those in the control group. These differences were statistically significant. This study suggests that education on breast-feeding might be an effective way to promote the initiation and duration of breast-feeding.