The effect of preconception care education of health volunteers based on the Health Belief Model on knowledge and attitude of women

Background: Preconception care is essential in promoting pregnancy outcomes. Considering the low prevalence of preconception care and important role of health volunteers, current researchers conducted this study.Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of preconception care education based on the Health Belief Model on knowledge and attitude of women.Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled trial with pretest-posttest design carried on 22 health volunteers and 110 married women aged 15-49 years old with an intention to become pregnant. Health volunteers in the intervention group were educated by the researcher according to the educational content of the preconception cares based on the Health Belief Model constructs and they educated women in the intervention group in three sessions of 90 minutes. Health volunteers in the control group were educated by the instructor of health volunteers and they educated women in control group with conventional manner. Data analyzed and significant level of p<0.05 was considered.Results: The intervention and control groups were homogeneous according to age, pregnancy history and age of the youngest child. The results showed that the knowledge score with controlling the interventional variables including education, and baseline knowledge and perceived severity in the intervention group was 5.22 higher than the control group, and this difference was statistically significant (t=8.14, p<0.01).Attitude score with controlling of interventional variables including baseline perceived attitude and perceived severity in intervention group was 2.7 more than of control group (t=2.99, p<0.01). Comparison of the mean difference between the total score of the model after training compared to before, in the intervention group was 6.22 higher than the control group and this difference was statistically significant(t= 4.7, p<0.001).Conclusion: Education based on the Health Belief Model was more effective than conventional education in increasing knowledge and attitude. Therefore, educational interventions using Health Belief Model in promoting knowledge and attitude of women about preconception care is recommended.

Keywords:

Preconception care , Knowledge , Attitude , Health belief model , Health volunteers