زینب جلمبادانی

Screening behaviors along with a healthy lifestyle and regular physical activity play an essential role in reducing mortality from breast cancer. The present study aimed to determine the factors associated with breast cancer–preventive behaviors based on the theory of protection motivation in women in Neyshabur city.

In this cross-sectional study, 325 women aged 30 to 69 years referred to Neyshabur health service centers were studied after enrolment through cluster sampling. The data collection tool was a researcher-made self-report questionnaire that had acceptable validity (face and content) and reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.83). Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics with SPSS v19. 

Fifty-two percent of participants never had a breast self-examination before, and 72.6% had never been to a health center for a clinical breast examination. Only 6.8% of the participants had regular physical activity. All constructs of conservation motivation theory, except fear, were correlated with breast cancer-preventive behaviors. Perceived self-efficacy had the highest score, and perceived cost had the lowest score among protection motivation theory constructs. Regression analysis reflected that protection motivation, perceived severity, perceived rewards, and awareness were predictors of the adoption of breast cancer–preventive behaviors. Overall, these variables could predict 15.4% of behavioral change.

Theory-based educational planning to encourage women to adopt breast cancer-preventive behaviors, including a healthy lifestyle and screening behaviors, is essential.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of mindfulness-based art therapy (MBAT) in decreasing stress levels and promoting life style in pregnant women referred to Neyshabur health centers in 2018

This study was interventional study, which was conducted on 84 pregnant women. Eighty-four pregnant women completed both the pre and post-study measurements. The MBAT group demonstrated a significant decrease in symptoms of distress and significant improvements in key aspects of the health-related style of life as measured by Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II questionnaire.

Independent t-test, after intervention, showed a significant difference in mean of lifestyle  and stress, interpersonal relationships, and responsibility in two groups (P <0.05); these changes were not significant in the control group.

This investigation of MBAT provides initial encouraging data that support a possible future role for the intervention as a psychosocial option for decrease in symptoms of distress pregnant women and improve lifestyle

Dysmenorrhea is one of the most common problems in females. “Theory of Planned Behavior” is one of the important theories that explains the main process of adopting health behaviors. The present study assessed applying “the Theory of Planned Behavior in relaxation training regarding the severity and duration of painful dysmenorrhea in Mashhad girl students. In this Semi-experimental study, 160 first year intermediate students of Mashhad city who suffered from dysmenorrhea were assessed.They had been randomly selected from 5 girl high- schools in the 6th educational district. They were divided into equal groups “case” and “control”. Intervention was made in four sessions. The requisite data was gathered by means of a researcher designed questionnaire before and 3 months after the education of the students. Finally, the obtained data was fed into SPSS software (v:16); using statistical tests including Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney, Independent T-test, Paired T and X2. After educational intervention, mean level of knowledge, attitude, perceived behavioral control, and willed performance of relaxation techniques significantly increased in the case group (P<0.05). These changes were not significant in the control group. Besides, no statistically significant difference in subjective norms was observed between the two groups after intervention. Meditation education group was increased significantly (P<0.05). Education of relaxation base on the Theory of Planned Behavior is effective in reduced pain intensity and its duration.

Iron is an essential element for women of reproductive age, especially in the period before pregnancy and during this period. This study was aimed to investigate the consumption of iron to prevent iron deficiency anemia based on the theory of planned behavior on pregnant women in Mashhad city. This quasi-experimental study was done on 160 pregnant women referred to health center No. 1 in Mashhad town who were allocated to case (80) and control (80) groups randomly in 2014. Intervention was done in four 75- minute sessions. Data were collected using a questionnaire made by researcher based on the theory of planned behavior and blood lab exam (Ferritin). Questionnaires were distributed and completed immediately, and 3 months after educational intervention were repeated again. The average rates of knowledge, attitude, perceived behavioral control and intention to use of iron intervention group was increased 3 months after the intervention significantly (P<0.05). These changes were not significant in control group. There was not also a statistically significant difference in subjective norms between two groups after intervention (P>0.05). Regarding the effect of education in promoting iron consumption in pregnant women, it is suggested that iron supplementation promotion workshops should be held in health centers with the aim of preventing iron deficiency anemia in health centers.

More than half of sexual problems that destruct life and marital relations occur due to insufficient knowledge or mistaken beliefs about sexual relations. Planned behavior model as an important theory explains the main process of health behaviors’ acceptance. This study surveys planned behavior model in predicting sexual practices of married women referring to Mashhad1 health centers in 2011. This cross-sectional study surveyed 200 women visiting health centers of Mashhad1 in 2011. Validity and reliability of questionnaire used were determined through panel of experts and Cronbach’s alpha and test-retest, respectively. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 11.5) using Pierson correlation coefficient and regression analysis. Based on the results obtained significant correlations were observed between all variables of the planned behavior model and sexual intention and function (p<0.05). Regression analysis revealed that attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control predict 0.45 of the variance of sexual intention. Among these variables, the effect of subjective norms was greater than other variables (p<0.05). According to the findings, it is essential that health practitioners to emphasize on proper sex education and use planned behavior theory as a model for promotion of female sexual function.

Method of withdrawal applied along with another method has a big role in unwanted pregnancies of women visiting County Health Center No. 1 in Mashha d. This paper studies the experiences of using withdrawal by women who visit health and care centers under County Health Center No. 1 of Mashhad in order to contribute to policy-making and have more comprehensive family plans.

This descriptive phenomenological study was conducted on 31 women visiting Health Center No. 1 in Mashhad aged 18-50 who used withdrawal. The study applied purposive sampling, and the data were analyzed by the 7-step methods developed by Colaizzi.

Classes derived from this study included psychological burdon (fear of contraceptive methods because of implification, friend's misconceptions, and pregnancy), efficiency (reach orgasm, relaxation after intercourse), accessibility (convenience and direct interface of the withdrawal method), traditional religious attitudes (God's will, tradition,and narrations from past generations), supportive changes of the spouse (interest in spouse, more satisfaction of the spouse, tendency to continue using withdrawal), expressing emotions (reduction of marital conflict, more excitement), and prevention of unwanted pregnancy(success of withdrawal).

Family planning programs cannot and should not eliminate withdrawal method, but they should focus onissues such as educating the correct use of this technique, informing of reproductive cycles in women most likely of pregnancy,emergency contraception methods,and increased participation of men in family planning in order to reduce unwanted pregnancies resulting from withdrawal method.

More than half of the sexual problems which cause family life abolishment and marital relationships are due to insufficient knowledge or erroneous beliefs about sexual relationships. Theory of Planned Behavior is one of the important theories that explains the main process of adopting health behaviors.The present study investigated the effect of sex education, based on Theory of Planned Behavior, on the sexual function of married women referring to Mashhad healthcare centers (H.C.C).

In this Semi experimental study, 80 of women visiting 5 H.C.C of Mashhad were selected and assessed through semi-experimental method. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire used were determined through face and content validity and through Cronbach’s alpha and test-retest; respectively. The obtained data was analyzed by SPSS software (V: 11.5) using statistical tests Spearman's correlation coefficient, and regression analysis.

After educational intervention, the average rates of knowledge, attitude, perceived behavioral control and intention of sexual functioning in the sex education group significantly increased (P<0.05); the mentioned changes were not significant in the control group. Besides, a significant statistical difference was not observed in abstract norms between the two groups after intervention.

Regarding the effect of education in promoting women's sexual function, it is suggested that sexual function promotion workshops for couples should be held in health centers with the aim of preventing sexual problems

First sexual experience plays significant role in sexual health and increases marital satisfaction and mental health. This study aims to understand women's first sexual experience in the city of Sabzevar. The descriptive phenomenological study with purposive sampling method was performed in 2010 on 30 women in the Sabzevar with less than 1 year after their first marriage. Researcher with a deep, semi-structured interview helped the participants to explain their first sexual experience. Data recording and implementation was performed with Colaizzi method of content analysis (data analysis in 7 steps). Psychological changes (fear, spouse mental fitness and a sense of relaxation after sex), change in approach to consulting (need of right consulting, knowledge gained through modern means of mass communication, gain knowledge from people with good experience and partner with good morals), gender differences (pain, flushed body, ruptured hymen, lack of orgasm, how to prepare in a relationship and not using contraception) and signs of cultural change at first sex (not shown blood tissue after rupture of the hymen, sex before marriage ceremony), are extracted in this study. Beliefs and attitudes of couples, and educational reform can be effective in improving sexual health and can improve the experience. Understanding this experience can help policymakers promote educational courses before marriage.

Background and

Eating disorders and abnormal attitudes towards eating in adolescents, especially girls, are among fundamental problems of societies. In order to make useful interventions for detecting eating disorders and attitude change at early stages, an appropriate and capable model is required. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the effect of Freire’s educational model on attitude change and eating disorders in students. Methods and Materials: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 60 female first-grade overweight high school students in 2010. They were non-randomly sampled from two high school in Mashad, Iran and were assigned into experimental and control groups. A standard questionnaire (EAT-26) was used for collecting data on eating disorders and nutritional attitude; the participants completed the questionnaire before and one month after the educational intervention. For data analysis, central tendency and dispersion indexes and independent t-test and paired t-test were used in SPSS 11.5.

The mean abnormal attitude score of the experimental group reduced from 8.53 before intervention to 4.16 after intervention (p<0.001). There was no change in the abnormal attitude of the control group (P=0.613). Also, the experimental group BMI reduced from 27.49 before instruction to 26.09 after intervention (p<0.001). Also, the eating disorder reduced from 6.4% before intervention to 3.2% after intervention (p<0.001). However, There was no significant differences between groups after the intervention as for their eating disorders (P=0.810).

The educational intervention by Freire’s educational model in school settings made favorable changes in student's attitudes and eating disorders.