Effect of communication skills training on health belief model constructs about AIDS in Zanjan health volunteers [2010-11]

The prevalence of AIDS/HIV is dramatically increasing worldwide. Iran and other Middle East countries are no exception in this regard. The main aim of this study was to assess the effects of communication skills program and AIDS education on Health Belief Model [HBM] constructs among the health volunteers in Zanjan. The study was conducted as a quasi-experimental trial. Eighty health volunteers were divided into two equal groups. The interventional group participated in two educational programs on communication skills and AIDS, compared to the control group that participated in AIDS education program only. Data collection was done both prior to and 20 weeks after the intervention using a self-report type questionnaire. The results of this study show that combining AIDS education program and communication skills training had a significant effect on susceptibility, [P<0.01] severity [P<0.003] and perceived barrier [P<0.0001] constructs of AIDS in the test group. By contrast, only the perceived barrier construct [P<0.0001] showed a significant change in the control group. Self-efficacy was the strongest predictor within the HBM. Findings of this study indicate that a combination of communication skills training and AIDS education program could have a better effect on Health Belief Model constructs on AIDS in health volunteers than the AIDS education program by itself

[Zanjan Islamic Azad university students' attitudes towards emergency contraception]

Unwanted pregnancy is a common health problem worldwide. Emergency contraception [EC] is the best effective approach for solving this problem. For reorganizing and correcting misunderstandings about the use of these methods, the present study was carried out on Zanjan Islamic Azad university students' in order to assess their attitudes towards emergency contraception. The attitudes of 1019 students towards EC was investigated using a self administered questionnaire including questions about demographic data and their attitude status. The data analyzed using appropriate software. About one third of the students [35.2%] had positive attitude, over half of them [64.1%] had impartial and less than one percent [0.7%] had negative attitude towards emergency contraception. Over half of them tended to use it and about one third believed that EC was very effective. 36% wished to obtain it from private health sectors and 35% cited that they did not do anything for the reason of modesty and shyness. Over one third of the subjects believed that using these methods is confronted with their religion. The most important obstacles for obtaining these devices were modesty, shyness and religious reasons which created a negative attitude. Consulting sessions can solve many of these barriers and will support a positive attitude

[ effect of male participation in quality and quantity improvement of family planning in Islamabad- Zanjan]

Efficacy of family planning is an important factor in reducing fetomaternal mortality and morbidity. Since men could influence their spouses' attitudes toward reproduction, we conducted this study to investigate the role of male education and participation in increasing the use of safe contraceptive methods. This quasi-experimental study was carried out on all fertile couples of Islamabad [Zanjan] who used withdrawal method for contraception. 90 families were entered into the study and following completing the questionnaire randomly divided into two groups of treatment and control. Intervention was performed through face-to-face education by NGO'S of the related regions for two months. After 6 months the second questionnaire was filled out to investigate the contraceptive methods. The data was analyzed using chi-square statistical test. Rate of application of safe contraceptive methods [TL, OCP, condom, IUD, DMPA] was higher in treatment group than in control group compared with withdrawal method which showed a significant difference [p=0.04]. Knowledge of using OCP and condom in both groups were high. There were 4 and 1 cases of unwanted pregnancy in control and treatment groups respectively [non-significant difference]. Despite the difficulties in performing the research, the study results showed that participation of men positively affects family planning. More investigafion regarding the inolvement of men in family planning is recommended