Investigating the relationship between theory of planned behavior construct with the pregnant women intention about neonatal care
Abstract Background: Considering that neonatal are the most sensitive group to kind of diseases, the present study aimed an investigating the relationship between theory of planned behavior construct with the pregnant women intention about neonatal care.Method: In this cross-sectional study, 100 pregnant women in trimester of pregnancy were selected by random sampling. Data was collected using valid and reliable questionnaire and interviews conducted with pregnant women. The questionnaire included demographic characteristic of the mothers and theory planned behavior construct. Finally the data were analyzed by SPSS 20 T-test, Chi-square, Correlation, ANOVA and regression.Results: The average age of the sample was 26.12±4.9 and the average duration of marriage age was 3.9 ±2.74 years. There was a high correlation between perceived behavioral control and behavioral intention (r=0.40; p < 0.001). Over 40% of pregnant women were shown to lack overall Knowledge about the items related to neonatal care. The mothers who were better prepared for parenting tended to have a higher level of schooling, perceived control behavior and knowledge. Regression analysis showed that the knowledge and perceived behavior control R2 =32% in the prediction of neonatal care intentions.Conclusions: Findings of this study show support for the predictive ability of the theory of planned behavior in predicting for neonatal care therefore the design of educational intervention should be based on intention and knowledge as the most important predictors of maternal behavior.