Educational Intervention on Preventive Behaviors on Gestational Diabetes in Pregnant Women: Application of Health Belief Model

Khiyali, Zahra; Manoochri, Mahin; Khani, Ali; Babaei Heydarabadi, Akbar; Mobasheri, Farzaneh

doi:10.22038/ijp.2016.7750

Educational Intervention on Preventive Behaviors on Gestational Diabetes in Pregnant Women: Application of Health Belief Model

Authors

¹ Department of Public Health, School of Health, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran.

² Department of health education and health promotion, School of Public Health, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.

³ Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran.

10.22038/ijp.2016.7750

Abstract

Background
Unfortunately, gestational diabetes with its demanding health cares and increasing economic costs is globally prevailing. Therefore, preventive measures against this difficulty are highly significant. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of training interventions on behaviors of pregnant women for prevention of gestational diabetes.
Materials and Methods
This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 91 pregnant women (n=45 in intervention group, n=46 in control group), whom were chosen through multi-stage random sampling, and three training sessions with weekly intervals were offered for the intervention group. The data was collected in two stages including before the intervention and three months after intervention through interview as well as filling in questionnaire forms. The collected data was analyzed through independent sample t-test and paired t-test by considering 0.05 confidence level using SPSS software (version19.0).
Results
The results of present study showed a direct and significant correlation between age and preventive behaviors (r=0.22, P<0.05), and also between body mass index (BMI) with perceived susceptibility (r=0.26, P<0.05). In addition, the mean scores of all constructs of Health Belief Model in intervention group, three months after intervention, were significantly higher compared with the control group (P<0.05).
Conclusion
Due to the fact that the results of the present study suggested the effectiveness of training interventions on enhancing the preventive behaviors against gestational diabetes through Health Belief Model and considering the significance of prevention of this disease, it is suggested to codify essential plans for performing training interventions.

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