Article

Health Belief Model and Nursing Students' Perception about Benefits of Pre Conceptional Folic Acid Intake

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Abstract

Context: Preconception folic acid intake is necessary for optimal embryogenesis. Using the health belief model is excellent to improve the young women's belief towards recommended healthy behaviors of taking folic acid. Aim: The study aimed to examine the effect of the health belief model on nursing students' perception of the benefits of pre-conceptional folic acid intake. Methods: A quasi-experimental design (pre-posttest) was used. The research was conducted at the Faculty of Nursing, Benha University on a purposive sample of (120) 4th-year female nursing students. Two tools of data collection were used. They are a self-administrated questionnaire and a Health Belief Model Scale. Results: There was a highly statistically significant difference concerning all items of nursing students' knowledge regarding pre conceptional folic acid intake pre and post-program (P ≤ 0.001). Furthermore, the mean total score of the health belief model subscales post-preventive program is significantly higher than a pre-preventive program (P ≤ 0.001). Meanwhile, the mean score of perceived barriers post-preventive program is significantly lower than a pre-preventive program (P ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: The health belief model improved nursing students' perception of pre-conceptional folic acid intake benefits. The study recommended applying the health belief model for all female university students as preventive behavior toward the benefits of preconceptional folic acid intake

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... The frequency of birth abnormalities is significantly reduced when mothers perceive the benefits of folic acid (FA) in avoiding birth abnormalities, such as neural tube defects (NTDs) (Alquraini, 2019). Problems with behavioral adjustments could be the reason for the disparity between folic acid awareness, knowledge, and use (Ramadan, 2020). Numerous factors, such as maternal age, marital status, educational attainment, economic grade, occupation, forgetfulness, the number of prior gestations, as well as if the pregnancy was planned, and ignorance of the folic acid intake benefits before and throughout pregnancy, are linked to preconception folic acid supplementation (Wald et al, 2020). ...
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