Assessing preventive Behaviors of Leishmaniasis in health Ambassadors: Application of Cognitive-social Theory

Leishmaniasis is affected by individual, behavioral and environmental factors that are still unknown and their identification can help control and prevent the disease. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of social-cognitive factors affecting leishmaniasis prevention behaviors in health ambassadors.

This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in rural areas of Mashhad in 1400. 207 health ambassadors were selected by multi-stage random sampling. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire based on cognitive-social theory structures whose validity and reliability were confirmed. Data were analyzed and collected in SPSS software version 26 using Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis and Spearman correlation coefficients and linear regression.

Based on linear regression test, the structures of emotional adjustment, self-control and self-efficacy in overcoming obstacles were significant predictors of preventive behavior of seekers and were able to predict 55.7% of the variance of this behavior. Emotional adjustment (β = 0.347, P <0.001) was the strongest predictor of behavior. After that, self-control (β = 0.295, P <0.001) and self-efficacy of overcoming obstacles (β = 0.158, P = 0.012) had a positive and significant correlation with behavior, respectively.

Findings of this study show that interventions to promote leishmaniasis prevention behaviors using emotional adaptation, self-control and self-efficacy strategies can be effective in overcoming barriers. Therefore, designing and implementing programs to promote leprosy-protective behaviors in this group of society is useful for controlling leishmaniasis.