Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 1 Department of Public Health, School of Health, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand
2 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistic, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol
3 Department of Public Health, School of Health, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand,Department of Health Education and Health Promotion, Health School, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan
4 Department of Health Education and Health Promotion, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
Abstract
Background: To achieve stable social development, the cooperation of all members of a
community is basically required. Providing and improving the health standard is one of
the most fundamental dimensions of human social evolution. This is more essential than
the other aspects of development (public cooperation demands) and health volunteers
are the forerunners of this cooperation, who have voluntarily set about having the public
participate in providing and elevating the level of community health. The present study
aimed to determine the effect of implementing “the health communication plan” by health
volunteers in suburban villages regarding the health knowledge and attitude of rural
women. Materials and Methods: In this quasi‑experimental study, knowledge and attitude
of 121 females (age 15–49 years), who were under the supervision of health centers in
four suburban villages (the case group), before and after performing the health volunteer
plan, were compared to those of 94 females (age 15–49 years) in another group of four
suburban villages (the control group) lacking health volunteers under the care service of
two rural health centers. Data gathering instrument was questionnaires and interviews. The
obtained data were analyzed by SPSS (ver. 11.5) using statistical paired t‑test and Sign
test. P≤0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: The study showed that
the mean of rural women’s health knowledge and attitude had increased and there was a
significant difference between before intervention and after intervention values in the two
groups (P<0.001). Comparing the averages of the two groups also revealed a significant
difference (P<0.001). Conclusions: According to the findings and the positive effects of
performing suburban health volunteer plan on the health knowledge and attitude of rural
women, it would therefore be important to suggest that suburban health volunteers are
very 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 rural
health centers is recommended.
Keywords
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