Volume 19, Issue 1 (Iranian South Medical Journal 2016)                   Iran South Med J 2016, 19(1): 77-90 | Back to browse issues page


XML Persian Abstract Print


1- Department of Health Education and Health Promotion, Student Research Committee,School of Health, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
2- Department of Health Promotion, The Persian Gulf Tropical Medicine Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
Department of Health Education and Health Promotion, School of Health, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
3- Department of Health Promotion, The Persian Gulf Tropical Medicine Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
Department of Biostatistics, School of Health, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran , rahimtahmasebi@yahoo.com
Abstract:   (5398 Views)

Background: One of the most common disorders in pregnancy is Folic Acid deficiency and its complications. The aim of this study was to examine the predictors of regular use of folic acid supplements based on HBM in pregnant women referred to Borazjan’s health centers.

Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 228 pregnant women or women with planning of pregnancy referred to health centers of Borazjan with random sampling method evaluated. Data was collected with questionnaire in 4 parts included demographic characteristics, knowledge, health belief model constructs and questions about folic acid supplement use. Data was analyzed by SPSS software with using appropriate statistical tests.

Results: The mean age of samples was 27.4±5.41. 144 patients (63.2%) consumed Folic Acid pills regularly, and 84 patients (36.8%) had irregular use. The awareness of folic acid in 22.8% of women was good, 59.6%  and 17.5% of samples had intermediate and poor awareness, respectively. The perceived barriers (P<0.001), perceived benefits (P=0.002) and self-efficacy (P<0.001) had relation with consumption of folic acid and among demographic variables, only education level (P=0.04) had relation with the consumption of pills. In logistic regression perceived barriers was only predictor. Age and educational level had indirect effect in regular consume pill.

Conclusion: Perceived barriers was strongest predictors of folic acid use, therefore intervention based on health belief model, with emphasis on reducing barriers is necessary for improving the use of this medicine during pregnancy.

Full-Text [PDF 646 kb]   (1615 Downloads)    
Type of Study: Original | Subject: Public Health
Received: 2014/11/29 | Accepted: 2015/02/25 | Published: 2016/02/25

Rights and Permissions
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.