فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

BACKGROUND: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have always been considered as a healthproblem in the world. Also, vulnerable women (addicts, jail breakers, and prostitutes) are at the highestrisk. According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) approach, the only effective way to preventand control this disease is public health education, and high‑risk and vulnerable groups should beprioritized in educational programs. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of health beliefmodel (HBM)‑based education on changing the behaviors related to STIs in vulnerable women.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study is an intervention (field trial) study in vulnerablewomen. Convenience sampling method was used in this study and the sample size was determinedto be 84 subjects. Through tossing a coin, the social support center was selected as the interventiongroup and the drop‑in center as the control group. Quantitative data analysis was performed, anddescriptive and inferential statistical methods were used.RESULTS: The mean scores of perceived threat, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, andperceived self‑efficacy and changes in performance between the three measurement stages, aswell as changes in the scores of perceived threat, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, andperceived self‑efficacy over three measurement times were significantly different between the twogroups (interaction) (P < 0.001). The mean score of performance 3 months after the interventionwas significantly higher than before the intervention (P = 0.001).CONCLUSIONS: The present study confirmed the effectiveness of the HBM in promoting behavioralmodifiers that lead to STIs. Therefore, educational interventions with emphasis on understandingthe threats, benefits, barriers, and self‑efficacy and, ultimately, performance improvement in relationto STIs are recommended.