Knowledge, Attitude and Beliefs of Rafsanjan Female Students Regarding Preventive Behaviors of Premenstrual Syndrome: Application of Health Belief Model

Abstract

Background and Objectives Adopting preventive behaviors of premenstrual syndrome as the key measure to prevent and control, i.e., affected by multiple characteristics. The current study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of female students of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences about preventive behaviors of premenstrual syndrome using a health belief model, in 2021. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among 260 female students who were selected by a stratified sampling approach. The data collection tool was a questionnaire of demographic information, knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of students based on the health belief model and preventive behaviors. The obtained data were analyzed in SPSS using Pearson correlation, one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Independent Samples t-test, and multiple regression analysis at a significance level of 0.05. Results There was a significant correlation between the mean score of behavior with attitude, benefits, self-efficacy, cues to action, and barriers (P=0.0001). Based on multiple regression analysis findings, performing physical activity per week and self-efficacy were the main predictors of preventive behaviors, respectively. Behavior-Correlated variables predicted the behavior adoption of 0.369. Conclusion Considering the correlation of variables with behavior, design, implementation, and evaluation of health education and promotion interventions using theories and models of behavior change are suggested.

Keywords

• knowledge
• attitude
• health belief model
• students
• premenstrual syndrome