ABSTRACT
Objective: Oral health is one of the basic components of preschool children's health. Young children completely depend on their parents, specially their mothers, to have an appropriate oral health. Health belief model shows the relationship between some structures related to personal perceptions, barriers and perceived self-efficiency, and behavior. This study aims to determine the oral health care status of children under 4 by their mother according to health belief model in Tehran
Methods: In this cross-sectional [descriptive-analytic] study, 200 mothers with children under 4 who visited health care centers under the authority of Shahid Beheshti University of medical Sciences were randomly chosen. A questionnaire which was designed according to health belief model [HBM] was used to collect data. Collected data was analyzed by SPSS software
Results: It was found that only in 10% of the cases knowledge score was favorable. Participants scored 50.85%, 75.93%, 72.23%, 92.06%, 48.2%, 86.31%, 64.07% in knowledge structures, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, self efficiency and behavior respectively. Knowledge structures [p<0.01, r=0.276], perceived barriers [p<0/01, r=0/314] and perceived self efficiency [p<0.01, r=0.269] showed positive correspondence and significant relationship with the oral and dental health behaviors by their mothers. Structures of health belief model could describe 17.9% of behavior variance. Amongst these structures, perceived barriers had more important role
Conclusion: This study estimated that the behavioral status of oral and dental health care of children under 4 by their mothers is moderate. Therefore planning an educational program using behavioral models and theories, such as health belief model is suggested, so that it can increase knowledge and self-efficiency and reduce perceptive barriers to promote children's oral health
ABSTRACT
Hepatitis A, an acute viral disease is the most common global cause of viral hepatitis that affects millions of people annually. Due to its high incidence, hepatitis A is considered a worldwide health problem. This study aims to determine the knowledge, risk perceptions, and behavioral intentions for hepatitis A among elementary school teachers in Yazd city. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in a random cluster sample of 307 people who taught at elementary schools. The data collection tool was a 30 question questionnaire that had validity and reliability in five parts: i] demographics, ii] knowledge, iii] individual risk perception, iv] general risk perception, and v] behavioral intention. The questionnaire completed by elementary school teachers in Yazd city. Mean Participants age was 37.80 +/- 7.89 years with a range of 20-53 years. The score knowledge was 23.44 +/- 3.17 [range 0-34], general risk perception was 23.44 +/- 3.17 [range 7-35], individual risk perception was 6.47 +/- 2.01 [range 2-10], and behavioral intention was 16.03 +/- 3.38 [range 5-25]. There were statistically significant differences between gender and mean score behavioral intention [p=0.009]. Therefore women had a high level of intention. It seems by emphasizing increasingly of knowledge aspect who can reach behavioral intention and finally the main purpose of health education with another meaning change behavior for creating health behavior.
ABSTRACT
The prevalence of infertility is variable between 5-30% around the world. In Iran, more than 2 million couples suffer from infertility. Infertility causes depression, anxiety, social isolation and sexual dysfunction. This descriptive study was undertaken to determine general health in infertile couples. One hundred and fifty infertile couples attending Yazd Research and Clinical Center for Infertility were randomly selected during March till September 2009. The GHQ-28 questionnaires were completed by researchers, based on face to face interview. It contains 28 items, which have been divided to four sub- items. The results come out by scoring the patients answer from 0 to 84. All data were analyzed by Chi-square and t-test in SPSS software. GHQ scores of all sub-scales and total in women were more than men, which shows general health condition in women is worse than men. There was no relation between the duration of infertility and general health scores. This study suggests that the infertility has significant effect [p=0.001] on health situation of infertile couples, especially infertile women. They are at risk of somatic symptoms [p=0.0001], social dysfunction [p=0.0001] and severe depression [p=0.0001]. GHQ could provided help and support in order to improve the health situation of infertile couples