Jorjani Biomedicine Journal

Background and objectives: Osteoporosis, a current silent epidemic, is of high importance due to its high prevalence and complications among women. It is a preventable disease whose high-risk population includes young girls. This study investigated the impacts of a health belief model-based education program about osteoporosis prevention on physical activity of junior high school students in in Kalaleh (Iran) during 2012.

Method: The present experimental study was conducted on 140 female students of the second-grade of junior high school in Kalaleh. The subjects were selected and allocated to the case and control groups (n = 70 each) using multistage random sampling. Data were collected through standard questionnaires on the application of health belief model in osteoporosis and physical activity. The collected data were analyzed with independent and paired t-tests in SPSS 16 version.

Results: There were no significant differences between the case and control groups in terms of household size and parents’ demographic characteristics. Before the intervention, the two groups had no significant differences in the mean scores of awareness and the health belief model constructs. However, the intervention could significantly increase the case group’s scores (P < 0.001). In addition, two months after the intervention, the mean scores of physical activity significantly increased in the case group (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: The health belief model-based education program was efficient in increasing the students’ awareness which in turn created a favorable attitude toward physical activity among the participants.

Background and Objectives: Damages caused by accidents are accounted as a major cause of death for children under 5 years old. To design preventive programs, health education theories could be employed. This study aimed to determine the effect of educational intervention based on health belief model on the damage caused by accidents in children less than 5 years in 1392 in Qorveh city.

Methods: The present randomized field trial study was conducted on 120 mothers with children less than 5 years who were supported by four different health centers. These centers were randomly divided into two groups of intervention and control. The effect of intervention was investigated using a standardized questionnaire including 85 items of health belief model structures. The questionnaires were completed using interviews by trained interviewers. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 19.0, independent and two-tailed samples t-test.

Results: We found that there were positive and significant differences in terms of knowledge, intensity, perceived barriers and self-efficacy between two groups after intervention (P<0.05). Average differences before and after the intervention and the average scores were significantly different in all cases (P<0.05). There was a significant difference regarding the mild injuries among children under five years between the two groups after intervention (P=0.023).

Conclusion: Our results showed that education on the basis of health belief model, as one of the theories of health education, has positive effects on the promotion of safety knowledge, attitude change and improving the function of mothers over damaged children lower than 5 years and consequently the promotion of health and safety among children.