Osong Public Health Res Perspect.  2019 Aug;10(4):253-262. 10.24171/j.phrp.2019.10.4.09.

Designing and Evaluating Educational Intervention to Improve Preventive Behavior Against Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Endemic Areas in Iran

• Ghodsi M
• Maheri M
• Joveini H
• Rakhshani
• Mehri A

• KMID: 2456578
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2019.10.4.09

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Health education programs are one of the most important strategies for controlling cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in endemic areas such as Neshabur city. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a comprehensive health education program to improve preventive behaviors for CL.
METHODS
This was an interventional study conducted on 136 high school students in Neishabur city. Data collection instruments included a demographic questionnaire and a researcher-made questionnaire based on the "Health Belief Model" and "Beliefs, Attitudes, Subjective Norms and Enabling Factors Model" constructs. The control and intervention groups completed the questionnaires before and 2 months after the intervention. The intervention was conducted in 6, 1-hour educational sessions for the intervention group students and 2, 1-hour sessions for school administrators, teachers, and students' parents.
RESULTS
There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in the pre-intervention phase. However, in the post-intervention phase, there were significant differences between the 2 groups for mean scores of knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, cues to action, self-efficacy, attitude, subjective norms, behavioral intention, enabling factors, and behavior associated with CL.
CONCLUSION
Health education program based on the "Health Belief Model" and the "Beliefs, Attitudes, Subjective Norms and Enabling Factors Model" model constructs may be a comprehensive and effective educational program to improve preventive behaviors against CL in students.

Keyword

cutaneous leishmaniasis; behavior; education; prevention

MeSH Terms

Administrative Personnel
Causality
Cues
Data Collection
Education
Health Education
Humans
Intention
Iran*
Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous*
Parents