ArticleInternational journal of women's health2026
Effectiveness of a Health Belief Model-Based Educational Intervention on Iron-Folic Acid Supplement Intake Among Pregnant Women in Southern Afghanistan: A Quasi-Experimental Study.
Article in International journal of women's health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Background: Research indicates that educational interventions are effective in promoting adherence to iron-folic acid (IFA) supplementation during pregnancy. However, evidence from Afghanistan remains limited. This study aimed to assess the effect of a Health Belief Model (HBM)-based educational intervention on IFA supplement intake and related perceptions among pregnant women in Southern Afghanistan. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted among 182 pregnant women attending four purposively selected healthcare centers between 10 December 2025 and 10 March 2026. Participants were non-randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 91) or the control (n = 91) group. The intervention consisted of HBM-based educational sessions, while the control group received routine antenatal care. Outcomes included self-reported weekly IFA supplement intake, HBM construct scores, and hemoglobin level, measured at baseline and post-intervention. Data were analyzed using chi-square tests, t-tests, and Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE). Results: After follow-up, 177 participants (intervention=89; control=88) were included in the analysis. The intervention was associated with a significant increase in weekly IFA supplement intake (β = 1.93, p < 0.001). Significant improvements were also observed in perceived benefits (β = 5.37), susceptibility (β = 3.16), severity (β = 2.18), self-efficacy (β = 3.61), and cues to action (β = 2.58) (all p < 0.001), while perceived barriers decreased significantly (β = -5.99, p < 0.001). On the other hand, the intervention effect on hemoglobin levels was not statistically significant, but the mean hemoglobin concentration (g/dl) in the intervention group (11.23 ± 1.04) was higher than in the control group (10.88 ± 1.20). Conclusion: The HBM-based educational intervention was associated with improved IFA supplement intake and favorable changes in health beliefs among pregnant women in Southern Afghanistan. These findings support the potential value of theory-driven educational interventions to promote maternal nutrition behaviors in low-resource settings.
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