RESUMO
Background and purpose: According to investigations, not considering the side effects of anxiety on a fetus, baby and pregnancy outcomes, as a result of lack of proper training and adequate information in terms of pregnancy common cares, pregnant women hypothesize anxiety as a common sense that will be improved spontaneously. So present study was aimed at evaluating effectiveness of education on anxiety among primiparous women based on Health Belief Model [HBM].
Materials and Methods: An experimental [interventional] study matched with two randomized group. using pre-test and post-test on the 88 eligible primiparous women[n = 44 per group] was performed. Data were gathered by using a researcher made questionnaire that its validity and reliability were confirmed. Education was conducted in three sessions [1hour for each one] tailored with HBM constructs, using lectures, group discussions, inquiries, PowerPoints and booklets. Evaluation was included implementing post-test, 4 and 8 weeks after last education session. Collected data were analyzed by SPSS [ver.20] software, using fallowing methods: statistical test including Chi-square, Independent T-test and repeated measure one way analysis of variance [ANOVA], significant level was taken less than 0.05.
Results: The achieved results indicate that the averages of age, education, job status and income were not significantly different for both groups [p>0.05].In our study, the mean scores of knowledge, perceived sensitivity, perceived severity, perceived benefits and barriers, cues to action, self-efficacy and individuals performance, 4 weeks after intervention [p<0.001] and 8 weeks after intervention [p<0.001] had significantly more magnitudes in case group compared to control group. After intervention, repeated measure Anova also showed a significant increase in case group regarding knowledge [from 32.1 to 89.1], perceived sensitivity [from 34.8 to 91.5], perceived severity [from 31.82 to 88.48], perceived benefits [from 39.28 to 92.41], perceived barriers [from 26.93 to 88.61], cues to action [from 24.65 to 92.03], self-efficacy [from 29.71 to 88.75] and person performance [from 28.83 to 94.63] in significant level of p<0.001. While, there was not observed significant change in control group [p<0.05].
Conclusion: According to achieved results which indicate meaningful effects of education on increasing the knowledge of pregnancy and common cares, changing people beliefs and performances in terms of pregnancy anxiety based on HBM and also considering the fact that increasing mother and babies health level leads to higher health level for families and societies, it is expected that health planners and authorities must show more respect to this issues,