Impacts of an educational program on rural women's knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF)

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is an important zoonotic disease that can cause severe complications in human, especially among residents of rural areas. In this experimental study, 80 rural women were selected in Iran, by multi-stage cluster sampling method and randomly assigned into two intervention (n = 40) and control (n = 40) groups. A CCHF prevention education program was developed and implemented for the intervention group. Data were collected in both pretest and posttest groups (3 months after intervention), using a researcher-made questionnaire to measure knowledge, attitudes and practices effective in the prevention of CCHF. The data were analyzed in SPSS-27 software test at a significance level of 0.05. The mean age of participants was 32.5 +/- 7.76 year. Based on the pretest results, the average knowledge (P = .001) and attitude (P = .001) in the control group was significantly higher than those of the intervention group, but the difference was not significant for the practice (P = .210). After 3 months of follow-up, the mean of knowledge, attitude and practice in the intervention group increased significantly, compared to that of the control group (P = .001). Educational interventions can improve the rural women's preventive behaviors toward CCHF. It is suggested to design and implement similar extensive educational interventions to empower rural women's first, and then whole society

Impacts of an educational program on rural women's knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF)

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is an important zoonotic disease that can cause severe complications in human, especially among residents of rural areas. In this experimental study, 80 rural women were selected in Iran, by multi-stage cluster sampling method and randomly assigned into two intervention (n = 40) and control (n = 40) groups. A CCHF prevention education program was developed and implemented for the intervention group. Data were collected in both pretest and posttest groups (3 months after intervention), using a researcher-made questionnaire to measure knowledge, attitudes and practices effective in the prevention of CCHF. The data were analyzed in SPSS-27 software test at a significance level of 0.05. The mean age of participants was 32.5 +/- 7.76 year. Based on the pretest results, the average knowledge (P = .001) and attitude (P = .001) in the control group was significantly higher than those of the intervention group, but the difference was not significant for the practice (P = .210). After 3 months of follow-up, the mean of knowledge, attitude and practice in the intervention group increased significantly, compared to that of the control group (P = .001). Educational interventions can improve the rural women's preventive behaviors toward CCHF. It is suggested to design and implement similar extensive educational interventions to empower rural women's first, and then whole society

The effect of a theory-based health education program on physical activity and blood pressure in middle-aged women with pre-hypertension: A cluster randomized trial

The purpose of this interventional experimental study was to determine the effect of health education program on physical activity and blood pressure in middle-aged women with pre-hypertension in Kohdasht. Eighty middle-aged women with pre-hypertension were selected and divided into two groups randomly. After the one-month online training program for intervention group, by conducting an interview, the data was completed using questionnaire and it was analyzed using spss 27 software (significance level of 0.05). Before the intervention, there was no significant difference between the two groups. After 3 months of follow-up, a significant increase in attitude, perceived behavioral control and behavioral intention related to physical activity was observed in the intervention group compared to the control group (P < .05). Also, the average blood pressure in the intervention group was higher than the control group. Considering the effect of the online health education program based on the theory of planned behavior in improving the stages of changing physical activity and reducing blood pressure, the use of these developed models with an emphasis on modifying the subjective norm related to physical activity in the field of prevention is recommended for high blood pressure

Factors associated with the salt intake behaviors in women in a high-salt intake setting

Purpose The high prevalence of hypertension is a significant concern worldwide. A decrease in salt intake is a well-known strategy to control hypertension and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Little is known about the factors influencing salt intake behaviors in settings such as Iran where consumption of salt is higher than the recommended amount. The purpose of this study was to find out what factors affect three salt intake behaviors among women: adding salt when cooking, adding salt to prepared food at the table and purchasing salty foods. Design/methodology/approach A community-wide cross-sectional survey of 516 women was conducted in Ilam, Iran. Participants were recruited using the cluster random sampling method. The survey included behaviors and variables of an expanded theory of planned behavior. The hypothesized relationships were investigated using structural equation modeling. Findings Perceived behavioral control (PBC) (p < 0.001) and habit (p = 0.01) appeared to be significant factors of adding salt when cooking. Determinants of adding salt to food at the table were intention (p < 0.001), PBC (p < 0.001), habit (p < 0.001). Also, PBC (p < 0.001), intention (p < 0.001), habit (p < 0.001) were identified as predictors of the purchase of salty foods. The results did not support the moderating role of Hedonic feeling to salt on the relation between intention and behaviors. Originality/value This study would be applicable to develop salt reduction interventions. Because altering the hedonic response to food is difficult, the lack of its moderating role could be a promising finding for developing salt reduction interventions

Factors associated with the salt intake behaviors in women in a high-salt intake setting

Purpose The high prevalence of hypertension is a significant concern worldwide. A decrease in salt intake is a well-known strategy to control hypertension and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Little is known about the factors influencing salt intake behaviors in settings such as Iran where consumption of salt is higher than the recommended amount. The purpose of this study was to find out what factors affect three salt intake behaviors among women: adding salt when cooking, adding salt to prepared food at the table and purchasing salty foods. Design/methodology/approach A community-wide cross-sectional survey of 516 women was conducted in Ilam, Iran. Participants were recruited using the cluster random sampling method. The survey included behaviors and variables of an expanded theory of planned behavior. The hypothesized relationships were investigated using structural equation modeling. Findings Perceived behavioral control (PBC) (p < 0.001) and habit (p = 0.01) appeared to be significant factors of adding salt when cooking. Determinants of adding salt to food at the table were intention (p < 0.001), PBC (p < 0.001), habit (p < 0.001). Also, PBC (p < 0.001), intention (p < 0.001), habit (p < 0.001) were identified as predictors of the purchase of salty foods. The results did not support the moderating role of Hedonic feeling to salt on the relation between intention and behaviors. Originality/value This study would be applicable to develop salt reduction interventions. Because altering the hedonic response to food is difficult, the lack of its moderating role could be a promising finding for developing salt reduction interventions

Developing and Testing an Instrument to Measure the Factors Affecting the Salt Restriction Benaviors among Women

Background: High salt intake is considered as one of the most important causes of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Measuring and identifying factors contributing to people's salt intake behaviors is important to evaluate effectiveness of interventions focusing on salt reduction behaviors. The purpose of this study was to develop and test a new theory of planned behavior (TPB)- based instrument to measure factors influencing three different salt intake behaviors (adding salt during cooking, at the table, purchasing salty food) among women. Study design: A mixed-method study. Methods: After the face and content validity of developed instrument were established, a representative sample of women (N= 300, age (SD):42.82(12.10)) were recruited to assess the construct validity using Partial Least Square confirmatory factor analysis. Coefficient alpha and composite reliability (CR) were used to establish reliability of instrument. The content validity index (CVI) and content validity ratio (CVR) were used to assess the content validity. Results: Assessing validity and reliability of instrument led to 56-item questionnaire. CVI was more than 0.70 and CVR more than 0.56. Internal consistency as assessed by Cronbach's alpha was acceptable. Convergent and discriminant validity were established. The GOF index for behavior one was 0.250, for behavior two was 0.414 and behavior three was 0.374. The results of confirmatory factor analysis indicate that TPB model has an acceptable fit with data. Conclusion: Our instrument provides a validated and reliable tool for assessing different aspects of salt intake behaviors in women to evaluate effectiveness of interventions focusing on salt reduction behaviors

Factors associated with the salt intake behaviors in women in a high-salt intake setting

Purpose The high prevalence of hypertension is a significant concern worldwide. A decrease in salt intake is a well-known strategy to control hypertension and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Little is known about the factors influencing salt intake behaviors in settings such as Iran where consumption of salt is higher than the recommended amount. The purpose of this study was to find out what factors affect three salt intake behaviors among women: adding salt when cooking, adding salt to prepared food at the table and purchasing salty foods. Design/methodology/approach A community-wide cross-sectional survey of 516 women was conducted in Ilam, Iran. Participants were recruited using the cluster random sampling method. The survey included behaviors and variables of an expanded theory of planned behavior. The hypothesized relationships were investigated using structural equation modeling. Findings Perceived behavioral control (PBC) (p < 0.001) and habit (p = 0.01) appeared to be significant factors of adding salt when cooking. Determinants of adding salt to food at the table were intention (p < 0.001), PBC (p < 0.001), habit (p < 0.001). Also, PBC (p < 0.001), intention (p < 0.001), habit (p < 0.001) were identified as predictors of the purchase of salty foods. The results did not support the moderating role of Hedonic feeling to salt on the relation between intention and behaviors. Originality/value This study would be applicable to develop salt reduction interventions. Because altering the hedonic response to food is difficult, the lack of its moderating role could be a promising finding for developing salt reduction interventions