Explaining the Nutritional Behavior of Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes; Application of the Health Action Process Approach

Aims: Gestational diabetes is a medical complication. This study was conducted to investigate the role of HAPA in predicting diabetes control behavior and eating style in diabetic pregnant mothers referred to the healthcare centers of Abadan University of Medical Sciences (South of Iran). Instrument & Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was done on ۸۲ subjects selected by simple random sampling in ۲۰۲۱. Data were analyzed using SPSS ۲۵ software. Findings: We found that ۴۱.۵% of mothers were in the age group of ۲۱-۳۰ years. Also, ۴۳.۹% were at the middle economic level. Among demographic variables, income was the strongest predictor of nutritional behavior (p=۰.۰۱, r=۱۹.۹, and β=-۰.۲۹۹). None of the model constructs alone predicted nutritional behavior in pregnant women. The HAPA model was able to predict ۲۱% of the variance of the nutritional behavior among the subjects (p<۰.۰۰۱, r=۰.۲۱۰, and β=۰.۴۵۸). Conclusion: Behavioral intention and action planning are effective in educating pregnant women to prevent and control diabetes.

Keywords:

HAPA model , Pregnancy , Gestational diabetes mellitus , Nutrition , Behavior