ABSTRACT
The cesarean section rate is very high and is increasing in most countries including Iran. Being a major surgery, the cesarean section may have dangerous side effects and even can be rarely fetal. During recent years, in most developed countries there have been many attempts to reduce the cesarean rate using education and other interfering methods. In our country it seems that the efforts with this regard have not been significant. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the effects of Behavioral Intention Model [BIM] education on reducing the cesarean rate among pregnant women. In this interventional study, 140 women at their first-time pregnancy and in 3rd trimester, where chosen in the winter of 2005, using simple random sampling method; they were divided into case and control groups. After pretest using a questionnaire in both groups, BIM was employed for the test group, followed by a post test performance in both groups. The collected data were analyzed by T-paired, independent T and chi-square methods. The results showed significant differences between case and control groups in the level of knowledge, evaluation of results, attitude and behaviors [p< 0.001]. According to the results, it can be concluded that BIM is effective on increasing or improving the knowledge, evaluation of results, attitude, strengthening the intention and behavior of the pregnant women. It is, therefore, suggested to use this method and other systematic education for pregnant women to decrease the rate of unnecessary cesarean