The effectiveness of a model-based health education program on genital warts preventive behaviors: a quasi-experimental study

Predictive power of PEN-3 cultural model in cervical cancer screening among women: a cross- sectional study in South of Iran

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer (CC) can be prevented through early detection facilitated by screening as well as an early diagnosis and effective treatment of the precancerous lesions. The present research aimed to determine the predictors of cervical cancer screening (CCS) based on the PEN-3 model constructs.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted between September 2021- March 2022 with 840 women aged 15-49 in the city of Bandar Abbas, in the south of Iran, using a cluster sampling. The participants completed a valid and reliable self-administered questionnaire in person. The questionnaire included demographic characteristics, knowledge toward CC and the constructs of the PEN-3 model toward CCS. A multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the relationship and predictive power of model constructs with behavior as an outcome variable. The data were statistically analyzed in STATA14.2. The p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

A total of 810 questionnaires were analyzed (with a return of 95.63%). The mean and standard deviation of the participants' age was 30.97 ± 5.80 years. Pearson correlation coefficient analysis of all constructs and CCS behavior was statistically significant (P-value < 0.05). The multivariable logistic regression analytic results were enablers toward CCS (coefficient: 0.275) and Nurturers toward CCS (coefficient: 0.182), perceptions toward CCS (coefficient: 0.077) and knowledge toward CC (coefficient: 0.048, marginal significant) were predictors of CCS behavior. For the internal validity of the designed prediction model, a sample of 1000 was selected using the bootstrap sample replacement method which demonstrated the accuracy of the model PEN-3 is about 75% in predicting CCS behavior.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the present research showed that personal factors such as perceptions and interpersonal factors such as enablers and nurturers toward CCS can predict CCS behavior. Therefore, in order to increase the acceptance of CCS in women, a set of intrapersonal and interpersonal factors should be taken into account.

Utilization of cervical cancer screening services and its associated factors in Iran: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

Considering the high incidence rate of cervical cancer (CC) in Iran, screening is an effective way of reducing the impact of the disease due to early detection. Thus, the recognition of the factors affecting the use of cervical cancer screening (CCS) services is essential.The present study aimed to determine the associated factors of CCS in women living in the suburbs of Bandar Abbas in the south of Iran.

METHODS

The present case-control study was conducted between January and March 2022 in the suburban areas of Bandar abbas. Two hundred participants were assigned to the case group and 400 participants were assigned to the control group. A self-constructed questionnaire was used to collect the data. This questionnaire contained demographic information, reproductive information, knowledge of CC, knowledge of CCS and access to the screening. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were run to analyze the data. The data were analyzed in STATA 14.2 at a significance level of p < 0.05.

RESULTS

The mean and standard deviation of participants' age in the case group was 30.33 ± 4.892, and in the control group was 31.35 ± 6.149. The mean and standard deviation of knowledge in the case group was 10.21 ± 1.815 and in the control group was 7.24 ± 2.447. The mean and standard deviation of access was 43.72 ± 6.339 in the case and 37.17 ± 4.828 in the control group. The results of multivariate regression analysis showed the following factors increased the odds of CCS: knowledge (OR medium = 18.697, OR high = 13.413), access (OR medium = 4.028, OR high = 8.126), being married (OR = 3.193), being educated (OR diploma = 2.587, OR university degree = 1.432), middle and high SES (OR Middle = 6.078, OR Upper = 6.608), and not smoking (OR = 1.144). Also, women's reproductive status, including history of sexually transmitted diseases (OR = 2.612), use of oral contraceptives (OR = 1.579), sexual hygiene (OR = 8.718).

CONCLUSIONS

In the light of the present findings, it can be concluded that besides increasing suburban women's knowledge, their access to screening facilities should be improved. The present findings showed the need to remove the barriers to CCS in women of low SES to increase the rate of CCS. The present findings contribute to a better understanding of factors involved in CCS.

Effect of Educational intervention based on Health Belief Model on promoting preventive behaviours of urinary tract infections in mothers with children under 6-Years of age

BACKGROUND

Children are one of the most vulnerable social groups to infectious diseases, and prevention of urinary tract infections in children is very important; therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of education based on health belief model (HBM) on promoting preventive behaviours of urinary tract infection in mothers with children under 6-years of age.

METHODS

This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 150 women with children under 6 years of age referred to health centers in Fasa city, Iran in 2021. Subjects were selected using simple sampling method and were randomly divided into intervention (n = 75) and control (n = 75) groups. The educational intervention for the experimental group consisted of 6 virtual training sessions of 40-50 min using lecture, question and answer, group discussion and video clips. Two virtual follow-up sessions were also held one month and two months after the educational intervention. Three months after the educational intervention, both experimental and control groups completed the questionnaire. Data were analysed by using SPSS 22 through Chi-square, independent t-test, and paired t-test (p > 0.05).

RESULTS

Before the intervention, based on independent t-test and paired t-test, the mean score of HBM constructs were not significantly different between the control and intervention groups (P > 0.05). However, while perceived barriers significantly decreased (P < 0.05) after the intervention, the mean score of knowledge, ‌ perceived sensitivity and severity, perceived benefits, ‌ self-efficacy, cues to action, and performance significantly increased (P < 0.05) after the intervention.

CONCLUSION

Considering the effect of training preventive behaviours of urinary tract infection based on HBM, application of the model as an effective and cost-effective method along with other methods is recommended for educational programs of mothers with children under 6 years of age.

A predictive model of genital warts preventive behaviors among women in the south of Iran: application of health belief model

BACKGROUND

Genital wart (GW) is known as an infectious disease. Besides the infection, it is associated with a higher risk of cervical neoplasia and cancer in the infected population. The present research aimed to explore the predictors of GW preventive behaviors based on the health belief model (HBM).

METHODS

The present analytical and cross-sectional research was conducted in 2019 among 720 women between 15 and 49 years of age in Bandar Abbas in the south of Iran. The sample was selected in a multi-stratified clustering method. The participants responded to a reliable and valid researcher-made questionnaire which explored demographic information, knowledge-related items and the model constructs. A multivariate linear regression analysis was run to determine the predictors of adopting GW preventive behaviors. A path analysis was also run to test the direct and indirect effects of the model constructs on the dependent variable.

RESULTS

The mean and standard deviation of participants' age was 30.43 ± 8.697 years. As Pearson's correlation coefficients showed, knowledge (r = 0.197, p < 0.001), perceived susceptibility (r = 0.434, p < 0.001), severity (r = 0.463, p < 0.001) and self-efficacy (r = 0.434, p < 0.001) were significantly correlated with the adoption of GWs preventive behaviors. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that self-efficacy (B = - 0.010, p < 0.001), perceived susceptibility (B = 0.070, p < 0.001) and severity (B = 0.078, p < 0.001) were the predictors of GW preventive behaviors. Path analysis showed that perceived susceptibility, severity and self-efficacy directly affected healthy behaviors while perceived benefits and barriers indirectly affected the preventive behaviors.

CONCLUSIONS

The present findings help to promote knowledge of the predictors of GW preventive behaviors. HBM can be a useful theoretical framework to evaluate the preventive behavior of the disease and help to reduce the rate of sexually-transmitted infections including GW.