. Mohammad Reza Miri; . Abas Ali Ramazani; . Mitra Moodi; . Kamal Mirkarimi
Volume 2, Issue 2 , July 2012, , Pages 1-5
Abstract
Background: To achieve stable social development, the cooperation of all members of acommunity is basically required. Providing and improving the health standard is one ofthe most fundamental ...
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Background: To achieve stable social development, the cooperation of all members of acommunity is basically required. Providing and improving the health standard is one ofthe most fundamental dimensions of human social evolution. This is more essential thanthe other aspects of development (public cooperation demands) and health volunteersare the forerunners of this cooperation, who have voluntarily set about having the publicparticipate in providing and elevating the level of community health. The present studyaimed to determine the effect of implementing “the health communication plan” by healthvolunteers in suburban villages regarding the health knowledge and attitude of ruralwomen. Materials and Methods: In this quasi‑experimental study, knowledge and attitudeof 121 females (age 15–49 years), who were under the supervision of health centers infour suburban villages (the case group), before and after performing the health volunteerplan, were compared to those of 94 females (age 15–49 years) in another group of foursuburban villages (the control group) lacking health volunteers under the care service oftwo rural health centers. Data gathering instrument was questionnaires and interviews. Theobtained data were analyzed by SPSS (ver. 11.5) using statistical paired t‑test and Signtest. P≤0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: The study showed thatthe mean of rural women’s health knowledge and attitude had increased and there was asignificant difference between before intervention and after intervention values in the twogroups (P<0.001). Comparing the averages of the two groups also revealed a significantdifference (P<0.001). Conclusions: According to the findings and the positive effects ofperforming suburban health volunteer plan on the health knowledge and attitude of ruralwomen, it would therefore be important to suggest that suburban health volunteers arevery helpful and effective in improving the knowledge and attitude level of rural women.In brief; as a direct result of their health performance, performing the plan all over ruralhealth centers is recommended.
