مجله آموزش و سلامت جامعه
سال دهم شماره 3 (Sep 2023)

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are frequently unreported, representing implied public health concerns, especially for women and in more vulnerable communities. This study aimed to determine the STI preventive behavior of Iranian women and related factors in protection motivation theory (PMT).

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted on a convenience sample from 20 January to 21 March 2021 in Iran. Women who were 18-35 years old with marital status were eligible to participate (N=600). The collected variables included demographic characteristics and STI-related behaviors regarding constructs of PMT: knowledge, perceived vulnerability, perceived self-efficacy, and preventive intention. A Persian version of the Korean four-scale about STI preventive behaviors was used as the assessment tool, and one-way ANOVA and Pearson correlation tests were used for analysis.

A significant difference was observed between knowledge, perceived vulnerability, perceived self-efficacy, and preventive intention with sociodemographic variables. STI-perceived vulnerability and STI-knowledge with mean scores of 62.37 and 42.52 were the highest and lowest perceived constructs of preventive behavior, respectively. STI knowledge of Iranian women was low, and STI-preventive self-efficacy was perceived as a positive predictor for STI protective behaviors.

A theory-based educational intervention is highly recommended to improve STI-protective behaviors.

 Considering the change in the life situation during the student period, attention to their health, especially the subjective well-being of students, is of particular importance. Social support is very important in this era and the aim of this study is to examine a model between subjective well-being and personality traits and irrational beliefs with the mediation of social support.

 The statistical population included all the students of Hacettepe University in Turkey, and 296 people were selected as a sample using a multi-stage random method. To measure subjective well-being, social support, personality traits and irrational beliefs, Subjective Well-Being Scale (Tuzgöl Dost, 2005a); Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS) (Yıldırım, 2004); Adjective-Based Personality Test (Bacanlı, İlhan, & Aslan, 2009) and the Irrational Beliefs Scale Short Form (Türküm, 2003) scales were used, respectively, which were psychologically conducted in Turkey for Turkish samples and had good validity and reliability.

 The model test through structural equations showed that there is a significant relationship between neuroticism and conscientiousness both directly and indirectly through social support and subjective well-being. In this model, the indirect relationship of agreeableness with subjective well-being through social support was significant, but extroversion, interpersonal communication, and relational self-perception could not show a significant relationship through the mediation of social support on subjective well-being.

 Neuroticism and conscientiousness are both directly and indirectly related to subjective well-being through social support. The indirect relationship of agreeableness with subjective well-being was confirmed through social support, but extroversion and interpersonal communication and self-view showed a direct relationship with well-being and the mediation of social support was not confirmed in their case.

 Health literacy (HL) is an indicator of health outcomes, but its role in dietary intake has received little attention. Excessive dietary intake increases the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the HL score, dietary intake, and nutrient intake of participants and the relationship between HL score and dietary intake among adults with MetS in Thailand.

 In this cross-sectional study, 2527 adults aged 18–59 years in primary care services, Phetchaburi, Thailand were included in the study using a multistage sampling technique. We determined HL scores using the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) and dietary intake using a semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire. We used multiple linear regression analysis to investigate the associations between HL score and dietary intake.

 HL scores were significantly lower in patients with MetS compared with participants without it (P<0.05). Participants with MetS had significantly higher calorie and fat intake than participants without it (P<0.05), and participants with MetS had higher fat and lower carbohydrate intake. The results of multiple linear regression showed a significant negative association between HL score and dietary intake, after controlling for potential confounding variables (ꞵ=−0.053, P<0.05).

 Our findings suggest that low HL score is associated with high dietary intake. Therefore, improving HL might play an important role in reducing dietary intake to decrease the risk of MetS.

 Exercise behavior (EB) has a significant impact on infertility, but the magnitude of the effect is not easily determined. This study aimed to assess the effect of social support and self-regulation, as external and internal factors, on changes in EB among infertile women.

 This cross-sectional study was conducted on 483 infertile women in Sanandaj (Iran) in 2020. Samples were recruited from 35 comprehensive healthcare centers by convenience sampling. Standardized face-to-face interviews were conducted using valid and reliable instruments for the assessment of EB, social support, and self-regulation. The association between EB, social support, and self-regulation was evaluated by logistic regression models.

 The majority of the participants (56.7%) had secondary infertility, while 70.8% of them did not perform any exercise. Self-regulation and social support were significantly higher in women with secondary infertility than in those with primary infertility (P<0.01). Self-regulation was significantly lower in women whose height was below 160 centimeters (P<0.05). Social support was significantly higher among participants aged≥35 years and weighing≥60 kg (P<0.01). The odds of EB adoption increased with self-regulation and social support (odds ratio [OR]=1.05, 95% CI=1.02-1.09, P<0.01; OR=1.06, 95% CI=1.02-1.11, P<0.01).

 Social support and self-regulation almost equally influenced EB in infertile women. In future research, designing support and consultation programs can be considered to encourage infertile women to exercise.

 The early diagnosis of breast cancer through mammography is effective in reducing death. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of an educational program based on the protection motivation theory (PMT) on mammography adherence among women in Yazd, Iran.

 In this experimental study, 144 women referring to the clinic were randomly assigned to test and control groups. The data collection tool was a valid and reliable researcher-made questionnaire with 56 items and 8 dimensions. The educational program was held in the form of 6 sessions for the test group, which included PMT–based essays, infographics, and videos. The 12-week follow-up period continued as telephone consultation, and then the data were collected and analyzed by SPSS software version 21 with a 95% confidence interval.

 The results showed that in the pre-training phase, the Mann-Whitney U statistical test did not reveal a significant difference between the two groups of women in terms of the mean mammography intention score (Z=2523.000, P value=0.775). Based on the results of the Wilcoxon test before and after the intervention, the protection motivation of women for mammography for the next month showed a significant difference in the test group. Furthermore, none of the women in the two groups were referred for mammography three months after the implementation of the training. In addition, the McNemar test results did not indicate a significant difference regarding mammography behavior in the two groups before and after the educational intervention.

 According to the results, the protection motivation of the majority of the women in the test group was in the stages of possible and definitive referral for mammography after the educational intervention, which indicates the effectiveness of the tailored educational program. In this study, all the constructs of the PMT act as interconnected building blocks with logical action and interaction to promote mammography adherence in women in Yazd.

 Displaced women are affected by sexual and reproductive health (SRH) challenges, often exacerbated by poor living conditions, limited access to healthcare, and cultural norms. The aim of this study was to explore SRH issues, the effects of displacement into camps on women’s SRH, and challenges with accessing and utilizing SRH services among women in camps for the displaced in Benue State, Nigeria.

 A qualitative phenomenological approach was employed to gain an in-depth understanding of the women’s SRH challenges, based on 12 focus group discussions between women of different age groups and eight in-depth interviews. The data were collected using tape recorders and notes. Data analysis followed a thematic approach. Ethical approval and appropriate consent were obtained for the study.

 The majority of research participants stated that sexually transmitted disease/human immunodeficiency virus was the most serious SRH issue in the camp. Their stay in camp enhanced the women’s vulnerability and exposed them to sex in exchange for basic needs/palliatives, increasing their SRH challenges. Access to and use of SRH services were impacted by their migratory lifestyle, cultural and religious views, lack of SRH knowledge, and other difficulties. Short-term approaches to intervention, health providers’ poor communication, and attitudes were reported to affect SRH service use.

 There is an urgent need for comprehensive interventions to address SRH challenges among women in displaced settings, including proper coordination of humanitarian services, education on transactional sex, encouragement of men to participate in SRH initiatives, and expansion of access to services, as well as the training and hiring of culturally competent healthcare providers.

 Relapse is prevalent following substance abuse treatment. This study aimed to estimate and identify the factors that contribute to substance use relapse among addicts in the southern region of Kerman.

 A total of 390 individuals seeking treatment for addiction in 2021 were selected using a multi-stage sampling method. Data were collected through a researcher-developed questionnaire, which included demographic information and the health action process approach (HAPA) constructs regarding relapse prevention. Descriptive statistics, including frequency distribution tables, means, and standard deviations, were used to summarize the data. The correlation between HAPA constructs was assessed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The Kruskal-Wallis test and structural equation modeling (SEM) with AMOS 24 software were utilized to analyze the data.

 The participants had a mean age of 33.39 years. The results (SEM) showed that there was a positive and significant relationship between action self-efficacy, behavioral intention, action planning, and the frequency of substance use relapse. The constructs of coping self-efficacy, recovery self-efficacy, action planning, and coping planning accounted for 18% of the variance in substance use relapse frequency.

 Motivational and voluntary phase constructs have a significant role in substance use relapse. Additionally, HAPA helps identify the factors contributing to relapse.

 Aging is associated with several health concerns, including sleep problems. Hence, the current study was conducted to determine the factors related to the performance of sleep hygiene behaviors among the elderly in Malair based on the social support theory.

 Data for this cross-sectional study were collected from 298 older adults who referred to comprehensive health centers in Malair, Iran, in 2022. Participants were selected by multi-stage random sampling method. Data collection tools included demographic information, social support theory, and sleep hygiene behaviors questionnaires. Data were then analyzed by SPSS software version 18 using independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and linear regression.

 According to the findings, among sleep hygiene behaviors, light and sound control behaviors to the minimum possible extent during sleep time (71.1%) and proper bedroom temperature control (68.5%) had the highest frequency. Furthermore, regular exercise behaviors such as walking outside homes in the evenings (16.4%) and examining the effect of drugs on sleep (24.8%) were the least frequent performance by the elderly. The results of linear regression analysis showed that instrumental support (β=0.297), informational support (β=0.224), and emotional support (β=0.15) are the best predictors of performing sleep hygiene behaviors. Moreover, the constructs of social support theory explained a 44.2% variance in sleep hygiene behaviors of the elderly.

 Considering the unfavorable level of some sleep hygiene behaviors among the elderly, it seems necessary to emphasize the importance of performing sleep hygiene behaviors. It is also suggested to pay attention to instrumental, informational, and emotional support when designing educational programs to increase the amount of the performance of these behaviors.