Assessing the effectiveness of telephone-based educational intervention using the health belief model on preventing...

Unsafe and illegal abortions continue to be a major contributor to maternal mortality globally. Education, particularly when applied as a primary prevention strategy, plays a vital role in reducing such risks. The health belief model (HBM) introduces behavioral science into public health and offers a framework for influencing health-related decisions. Considering the difficulties associated with in-person education for women considering abortion, a telephone-based educational approach was selected as a practical alternative. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of educational intervention via telephone using the HBM in preventing abortion attempts in married women in Isfahan.

This semi-experimental clinical trial involved 72 pregnant married women seeking abortion services at four randomly chosen comprehensive health centers. Two centers were assigned to the intervention group and two to the control group. Participants were selected using convenience sampling. Data collection involved two tools: a demographic questionnaire and a 34-item HBM-based questionnaire. The intervention group received three educational sessions of 20 min each via telephone. The control group received standard care. Questionnaires were completed before the intervention and again 1 week later to allow for timely guidance and prevention efforts.

Post-intervention results showed a significant improvement in the intervention group's mean scores for perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, and self-efficacy (P < 0.001), alongside a notable reduction in perceived barriers. Although the difference in barriers between groups was not statistically significant, within-group change was meaningful.

These findings confirm that telephone-based education using the HBM can effectively discourage abortion attempts and promote informed reproductive decisions.