A survey on preventive behaviors of high school students about influenza a based on health belief model in Shahrekord, Iran

The higher prevalence rate of influenza A among adolescence emphasizes the importance of preventative strategies among this age group of population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the preventive behaviors of high school students regarding type A influenza, in Shahrekord, Iran. In this cross-sectional study, high school students were enrolled. Preventive behaviors of influenza A was evaluated by components of The Health Belief Model (HBM), using a questionnaire which reliability were verified through a pilot study (alpha score of 0.8). 313 (163 boys and 148 girls) high school students were studied. Mean age of students was 16.31 years. Knowledge, perceived severity and perceived barriers were in the modest level among the students. The highest scores were related to perceived sensitivity (75.4%) and perceived benefit (55.6%). Mass media was the main source of their information regarding influenza A. Considering the findings of this study and the relation between HBM components and the preventive behaviors of students, it seems that using HBM could be useful in improving preventive behaviors of influenza A among the studied population