Peer-led versus teacher-led AIDS education for female high-school students in Yazd, Islamic Republic of Iran

Peer-led programmes on AIDS prevention have shown a good level of effectiveness when tested among high-risk populations. This study compared peer-led and teacher-led methods of education about HIV/AIDS among female high-school students in Yazd city, Islamic Republic of Iran. In 2009 students in 3 high schools were trained by their classmates [peer-led], by the research team [teacher-led] or had no education [controls]; 180 students completed a specially designed questionnaire based on the health belief model, before and after the intervention. Post-intervention mean knowledge scores increased 2-fold in the peer-led group, and this was significantly higher than the increase in the teacheHed group scores [1.5-fold]. Control group scores were unchanged. In the peer-led programme all of the components of the model were significantly improved whereas in the teacher-led programme, only perceived severity and perceived barriers scored significantly higher after the intervention

[Relationship between educational practice of volunteer health workers and preventive behavior of households under their coverage regarding cutaneous leishmaniasis based on the BASNEF model in Yazd City, Iran]

The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between educational practice of volunteer health workers [VHWs] and preventive behavior of households [HH] under their coverage regarding cutaneous leishmaniasis [CL] based on the BASNEF model in Yazd City, Iran. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, all the 60 VHWs in the CL-endemic regions in Yazd City were interviewed and completed a valid and reliable questionnaire designed by the investigator. In addition, from among the households under coverage of each one of the VHWs, 2 HHs were selected randomly and their heads were interviewed and completed the relevant questionnaire [total n=120]. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. There was a positive correlation between the knowledge and attitude of VHWs and knowledge of the households, as well as between the VHWs' behavioral intention and households' behavior. Further analysis of the data also revealed a positive correlation between the enabling factors of VHWs and the knowledge, behavioral intention, enabling factors and behaviors of families, as well as between educational behavior of VHWs and knowledge, attitude and behavior of the families. Volunteer health workers can potentially play an important role in case-finding, prevention and timely treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. However, merely promoting their awareness of the disease will not lead to improvements in their educational behavior in the community. More effective education aiming at promoting their awareness and enabling factors, as well as developing better attitude in them, will certainly result in better behavior of households and control of the disease

[Perceived benefits and barriers of preventive behaviours of relapsed myocardial infarction]

Cardiovascular diseases are among 46% of deaths in Iran. Changing lifestyle is very important for the disease control. If the patients perceive the benefits of preventive behaviours, the barriers to those behaviours will decline and the probability of engaging in the behaviours will increase. This study carried out to determine perceived benefits and barriers of preventive behaviours of relapsed myocardial infraction. This cross-sectional study was carried out on 100 patients with a history of myocardial infraction referred to Yazd Cardiovascular Research Center during 2007. A questionnaire was used for data collection which measured perceived benefits of, barriers to preventive behaviours of myocardial infraction relapse and status of those behaviours. Data was analyzed using SPSS-13 and Pearson coefficient and regression tests. Subjects earned a mean score of 30.24 [out of 36] in perceived benefits and 22.07 [out of 68] in perceived barriers and 24.48 [out of 37] in preventive behaviours. Preventive behaviours was positively correlated with net benefit and negatively with perceived barriers. This study showed that in spit of suitable level of perceived benefits of myocardial infraction, but still the perceived barriers are significant enough and therefore removal of barriers to such behaviour are essential