EFFECT OF SHORT TERM PRECONCEPTION HEALTH EDUCATION ON HEALTH LOCUS OF CONTROL AMONG YOUNG FEMALES

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effect of short term health education program on health locus of control in females (18-22 years of age), enrolled in Bachelor’s program in Fatima Jinnah University. Study Design: Quasi-experimental. Place and Duration of Study: Fatima Jinnah University Rawalpindi Pakistan from Jan 2016 to Dec 2016. Material and Methods: A sample of 281 young females was taken. Pre-intervention questionnaires were filled prior to the intervention. Intervention, in the form of a workshop was done comprising of oral lecture, video clip and flash cards. Post intervention questionnaires were filled by the same participants after 2 weeks. Questionnaires consisted of Sociodemographic profile and Multidimensional health locus of control form A. Results: Out of 281 participants 13.7% were 18 years old and below, 20.1% were 19, 23.7% were 20, 22.3% were 21 and 20.1% were 22 years and above. No association was found between age groups and difference in mean of internal and external health locus of control scores. The mean of pre-intervention scores of internal health locus of control was 23.78 ± 6.10 and that of post-intervention score was 25.58 ± 5.98. A p-value=0.001 (significant p-value <0.05). In case of external health locus of control mean of pre-intervention score was 23.20 ± 5.974 and of post-intervention score came out to be 23.11 ± 5.388. A p-value=0.666 (significant p-value<0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study depicts that short term health education program causes an effect on health locus of control as seen by change in both internal and external loci.............

Keywords

• preconception health