Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Determination of preventive behaviors for pandemic influenza A/H1N1 based on protection motivation theory among female high school students in Isfahan, Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Gholamreza Sharifirad
. Parastoo Yarmohammadi 1
. Mohammad Ali Morowati Sharifabad2 2
. Zohreh Rahaei 3

1 Ayatollah Kashani Hospital, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord

2 Departments of Health Education and Promotion, Yazd Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd

3 Departments of Health Education and Promotion, School of Health, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract
Introduction: Influenza A/H1N1 pandemic has recently threatened the health of world’s population
more than ever. Non-pharmaceutical measures are important to prevent the spread of influenza A/
H1N1 and to prevent a pandemic. Effective influenza pandemic management requires understanding
of the factors influencing preventive behavioral. This study reports on predictors of students’
preventive behaviors for pandemic influenza A/H1N1 using variables based on the protection
motivation theory (PMT). Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study, multiple-stage
randomized sampling was used to select 300 female students in Isfahan who completed a
questionnaire in December 2009. Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire based on
PMT. The statistical analysis of the data included bivariate correlations, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis,
and linear regression. Results: The mean age of participants was 15.62 (SE = 1.1) years old. Majority
of participants were aware regarding pandemic influenza A/H1N1 (87.3%, 262 out of 300). Results
showed that, protection motivation was highly significant relationship with preventive behavior
and predicted 34% of its variance. We found all of the variables with the exception of perceived
susceptibility, perceived severity, and response cost were related with protection motivation and
explained 22% of its variance. Conclusion: Promotion of students’ self-efficacy, and intention to
protect themselves from a health threat should be priorities of any programs aimed at promoting
preventive behaviors among students. It is also concluded that the protection motivation theory may
be used in developing countries, like Iran, as a framework for prevention interventions in an attempt
to improve the preventive behaviors of students.

Keywords

Influenza A/H1N1
preventive behaviors
protection motivation theory
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Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 4, Issue 1
Winter 2014
Pages 1-6

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