Effect of an Educational Intervention Based on the BASNEF Model on Promoting Physical Activity Among Postpartum Women
Background Due to the prevalence of low physical activity (PA) among women, especially during the postpartum period, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of an educational program based on BASNEF (beliefs, attitudes, subjective norms, and enabling factors) model in promoting the postpartum PA among mothers. Methods This quasi-experimental study was carried out on 68 women of Kermanshah City in Western Iran during 2015 who were recruited through cluster random sampling method. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: intervention ( n = 33) and control ( n = 35). The subjects in the intervention group received the five educational sessions. The assessment of the participants was performed before and 6 weeks after the intervention. The researcher-made questionnaire based on the structures of the BASNEF model and the standard PA questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data were analyzed using SPSS-24 software. Results After educational intervention, there was a significant difference between the mean scores of knowledge, attitude, subjective norms, behavioral intention, enabling factors, number of steps, and the intensity of PA ( p < .001). In addition, there was no significant difference between groups toward the PA intensity before the intervention ( p = .590), but this relationship was significant after the intervention ( p = .001). Conclusion Based on the results, training the PA based on the BASNEF model can be effective in promoting the PA in the postpartum period; therefore, it is recommended that the educational programs be applied for all these mothers in postpartum period. In addition, if the theories and behavior change models be correctly applied in educational programs, the useful results will be obtained.