Application of BASNEF model for coetaneous Leishmaniasis educational prevention program in Yazd City

Introduction: Few studies have been implemented in the field of making educational models applicable for educating the community in macro level.  Whereas with increasing population, the addition of new health problems to existing issues and increasing amount of educational material with  progress of science, models created for educating small populations do not have enough efficacy.  The study was designed and done with the aim of application of BASNEF model to provide a new model for educating large population.

Material and Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 60 Volunteer Health Workers (VHWS) and 120 households were resident in endemic areas of Coetaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) in Yazd in 2008-2009.  They were selected through census method and multi-stage sampling respectively. First, educational behaviors of VHWS and preventional behaviors of CL in households were studied through observation, interview and VHWS and households questionnaires based on BASNEF model.  Validity and reliability were confirmed.  Educational intervention was designed and implemented based on our findings via BASNEF model.  After educating VHWS, we were asked to educate households. After 3 months of VHWS training activities, data was collected in intervention and control groups via questionnaires and were analyzed with SPSS software.

Results: The mean score of knowledge, attitude, behavioral intention, enabling factors, behaviors and influence of subjective norms after educational intervention in the VHWS intervention group was significantly increased and also the mean scores of knowledge, attitude, behavioral intention, enabling factors, behavior and influence of some subjective norms of under study area households was significantly increased after educational intervention in intervention group (P<0.05).

Discussion and Conclusion: The educational program led to empowering of VHWS and a change in their educational behavior leading to preventive measures in households under study region.  The new educational model presented in this research is formed based on the BASNEF model to educate large population.