Effect of Education on Preventive Home Accident Practices by Mothers with Toddlers: Using the Theory of Planned Behavior
Abstract Background Home accidents are one of the causes of death and disability in toddlers. This study aimed to determine the effect of education on preventive home accident practices by mothers with toddlers with regard to the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Methods This research was a quasi-experimental study conducted on 116 mothers referred to comprehensive health centers (58 mothers per experimental and control groups), who were selected using cluster sampling method. Data were collected by a researcher-made TPB questionnaire, and then educational intervention was performed based on the TPB in four 45-60 minute sessions for the experimental group. After two months, the data were recollected from the two groups and analyzed by SPSS software version 16. Results Comparing the scores of knowledge, TPB constructs (i.e., attitude, perceived behavioral control, behavioral intention, and subjective norms), and preventive home accident practices of mothers revealed no statistically significant difference between the two groups at the beginning of the study. After having the intervention, there was a significant difference between the two groups of mothers regarding knowledge, TPB constructs (except for subjective norms), and preventive home accident practices for toddlers (p <0.001). Conclusion Preventive home accident practices adopted by mothers with toddlers enhanced after applying the TPB ; hence, this theory-based education can be used as a proper theoretical framework for toddlers’ home accident prevention.