Evaluation of modification of behaviour of the pregnant women in the field of urinary infections based on the health belief mode

Introduction: One of the most common problems among women during pregnancy is Urinary Infection (UI). Pregnant women are highly susceptible to UI due to body changes and because of its potential complications on mothers and their fetuses, UI receives particular attention.The current study aimed at investigating the modifiability of behaviour of the pregnant women in the field of urinary infections based on the health belief model. Methods: This is a quasi-experimental intervention study. The samples involved 110 pregnant women who attended Health Center in Behbahan (Khuzestan Province) and were randomized to case and control groups. The reliability and validity were established before conducting the study and the tool of the study included a designed questionnaire based on the Health Belief Model (HBM). Before the intervention, the participants in both groups were asked to fill in a questionnaire and the pregnant women of the experimental group received a five session educational program according to (HBM). There was no intervention in control group. One month after intervention, both groups were evaluated by re-completing the questionnaire. And finally, Statistical tests such as Independent t-test, Paired t-test and Chi- Square were used for analysis of data in both groups. Results: The results of an independent t-test revealed that before intervention there were no significant differences between the mean scores of the pregnant women's behaviour in the two groups concerning behavioral prevention of urinary infection such as the way of cleanness and wearing clothes, eating habits, urinary habits, and sexual behaviour. After intervention, however, significant differences were observed between the mean scores of all aforesaid variables (P<0.05). The Paired t-test showed that there were significant differences between the mean scores of the variables in case group before and after educational intervention (P<0.05), whereas the mean scores of control group changed trivially and no significant differences were observed. Conclusion: The findings of current study confirmed the effectiveness of educational intervention based on Health Belief Model in modification of behaviour of the pregnant women in the field of urinary infections.