Background and objectives: Vision impairment yields significant social and
economic burden around the world. The initial step in the prevention of blindness
is recognizing its current situation and main causes. The prevalence of
blindness is 1. 1% in the village of Chaharborj which is located in the northeastern
part of Iran. This study aimed to identify the behavioral preventive factors
of blindness in a village of Esfarayen city based on BASNEF model. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the number of 330 samples aged 15 to
64 selected from the residents of the Chaharborj village through multi stage
sampling method. Participants were classified into three groups: single, married
after diagnostic tests and married before testing the existence of blindness
gene. Study participants completed a questionnaire which developed based on
the BASNEF mod elthrough interviews. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire
were confirmed. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16
applying the Pearson statistical test, Chi-square test, independent t-test and
analysis of variance with the significance level of p<0.05. Results: scores of awareness and other constructs of the BASNEF model for
prevention of blindness were not favorable. Remoteness of laboratory and lack
of desire in the people outside of the village to marry with Chaharborj residents
due to the fear of blindness were the main determinant factors in prevention of
blindness. The most influential subjective norms were advisedby physicians and
health staff. Awareness was significantly correlated with attitude and in turn,
the attitude was correlated with enabling factors among three study groups. In
the first group, there was a significant and direct correlation between awareness,
attitude and intention to behavior. In the second study group, knowledge
and enabling factors were significantly correlated with awareness and enabling
factors.
Conclusions: Training of village residents and beyond about the mechanisms
of blindness should lead to create preventive norms, attitude and intention to
prevent behavior and considering blindness as a preventable disease. Due to
the important role of providing facilities in adoption of behavior,accessible conciseexamination
should be considered in the national policies and programs.
Paper Type: Research Article
Shrifian E, Estebsari F, Haghjou L, Nedjat S, Majdzadeh S. Determining Behavioral Preventive Factors of Blindness based on BASNEF Model in the Chaharborj Village, City of Esfarayen. Iran J Health Educ Health Promot 2014; 2 (3) :186-198 URL: http://journal.ihepsa.ir/article-1-244-en.html