The Effects of Educational Intervention on the Constructs of Social Cognitive Theory and Theory of Planned Behavior on Cesarean Intention among Nulliparous Pregnant Women

摘要

Although, cesarean section has a higher rate of complications compared with vaginal delivery, there is a growing trend for cesarean section in Iran. This theory-based study was aimed to investigate the effect of an educational intervention on cesarean intention in nulliparous pregnant women. This study was a randomized controlled study. In total, 146 nulliparous pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy were recruited in different health centers in Kermanshah City in 2015. Before intervention, a baseline data collection was done by using a valid and reliable questionnaire on participants in both groups. In addition to routine prenatal care, the intervention group received the educational program designed on the constructs of the social cognitive and planned behavior theories. After 4 weaks of completing the educational program, data were collected in both groups. A SPSS Software version 21 was used for data analysis. Results showed that there were significant differences between the intervention and control groups after the educational intervention in terms of attitudes toward cesarean, outcome expectations, outcome expectancies, perceived behavior control, subjective norms and cesarean intention (p<0.05). The findings indicated that an intervention based on a combination of the constructs of the social cognitive and planned behavior theories can affect cesarean intention in women. Therefore, it seems that conducting such interventions, particularly in nulliparous pregnant women, can decrease cesarean intention.