Measuring Health Belief Model Constructs in Preventive Behavior about Self-Medication in Pregnant Women in Arak City

Background and Objectives: Nowadays, the use of educational models to determine the causes of rejection of health-related behaviors has been on theincrease. Health belief model is one of the models during the past years has been considered. Therefore, the aim of this study was to measure health belief model constructs in preventive behavior about self-medication in pregnant women in the city of Arak. Methods: Thisanalytical, cross-sectional study was carried out on 200 pregnant women having referred to health centers in Arak city. Data collection was based on the Health Belief Model (susceptibility, severity, perceived benefits and barriers, cues to action) and the checklist of self efficacy and practice mothers about self-medication. Data were collected from organized interviews and finally analyzed using descriptive statistical tests such as Pearson correlation. Results: In this research the mean age of subjects studied was found to be 28.15±4.25 years and the mean duration of pregnancy was 7.2±4.6 weeks. Moreover the findings showed that there was a reverse relationship between self-medication measures by the mothers under study and perceived barriers sensitivity, severity, benefits and perceived self efficacy. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, health belief model constructs in pregnant women who practice self-medication have low precision. Therefore, a training program based on health belief model is strongly recommended in order toenhance sensitivity and perceived severity in pregnant women to their health and self-medication and also increase their self efficacy and perceived benefits with a reduction of perceived barriers